Category Archives: Lifestyle

Lifestyle, News

Haier Malaysia Introduces New 2024 Catalogue of Home Appliances

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Haier is no stranger to home appliances. In fact, the brand has been recognized internationally as the number 1 brand across multiple categories including washing machines, water heaters, and more. 2024 seems to be the point at which AIoT takes center stage for Haier as their product lineups continue to adopt features like WiFi and more AIoT-centred functionalities.

Keeping Things Chill & Healthy with New Air Solutions

Haier’s lineup will be bolstered with the introduction of two new line-ups of air conditioners. The new UV Cool Premium (VXA) and UV Cool Smart (VRA) series of air conditioners will feature built-in Wi-Fi modules that enable seamless control from your smartphones. This will, naturally, be available through the Haismart application.

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In addition, these air conditioners incorporate UVC sterilization technology. This technology helps destroy bacteria and viruses in the air by emitting UVC rays which has been certified by Texcell and SGS to have a 99.991% efficacy in removing pathogens including the SARS-CoV-2. These features are also making it into Haier’s commercial air conditioners.

Smarter Food Storage with the Haismart App

Together with smarter, more health-centric air conditioners, Haier will also be bringing Haismart app functionality to their brand-new HRF-IM758LXG (B) 4-door refrigerator. With the new refrigerator, you’ll be able to remotely manage your chilled foods and groceries. That’s not all, the Haismart app will also give you personalized recipes.

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The fridge itself comes with a built-in touchscreen that allows you to control the temperature and other settings directly. The new daylight feature will bring better illumination throughout the fridge.

Together with this model, Haier is also introducing HRF-IG585EM (GB) and HRF-IM585EM (FB) 4-door fridge models. These models round up the trio of new fridges that will come with a new Humidity Control System Plus that helps regulate the humidity levels in the crisper drawer. This allows you to store items like fruits and vegetables longer. There’s even a dry zone for items like ikan bilis.

If you’re into wines, the WS-198 and WS-118 wine chillers will allow you to better chill and store your collection with its Natural Air Flow System. This system allows for better temperature and humidity control. If you need to keep things on ice, they also have the UR-331BK, UR-261BK and UR-181BK upright freezers.

Washing with Smarter Convenience

Haier isn’t just keeping things cool. It’s also bringing the smarts to its washing machine lineup. The new BD14266S8 front-loading washer not only comes with Haismart app connectivity, but it also has a vivid Colour Ai display panel that allows you to more precisely control your washing. There’s also the BD2178S8 top-load washer that comes with Auto dosing to help you save on laundry supplies.

Meanwhile, when it comes to washing yourself, Haier is introducing the new K Series of water heaters. The new series comes with Shock Proof Technology to deal with electricity leakage and Earth-leakage circuit breaker (ELCB) failure. This helps prevent electric shock while bathing.

Helping You Cook Up A Storm

2024 is also the year for smarter cooking with Haier’s hob and hood lineup. The new HH-GT6907GB is a powerful, quiet hood that has a large bionic volute design for unrestricted airflow. This is complemented by the hood’s AI Smart Air Flow that dynamically adjusts to maintain air quality even when it comes to homes where long piping is needed.

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Of course, you’ll need a hob to complete your kitchen. In 2024, Haier is bringing three new hobs the HC-Q893STGB, the HC-Q872PTGB, and the HC-Q872PTDG. These hobs come with Haier’s Hob-to-hood connection that wirelessly connects the HH-GT6907GB hob with Bluetooth. This allows your Hood to auto-magically turn on as soon as your hob is turned on. They also come with timers that automatically cut off the gas supply once it runs out avoiding potentially deadly situations.

OLED TVs Take Center Stage

Rounding up the 2024 Haier catalog is its new lineup of OLED Smart TVs. Having already made their debut recently, the new H65C900UX (65-inch) and H55C900UX (55-inch) bring cutting-edge display technology. They bring some of the most requested features like 120Hz refresh rate, 4K resolution, and premium sound with Harman Kardon.

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All of these products are already making their way to stores in time for Christmas, New Year’s and the Lunar New Year festivities.

Health, Lifestyle

The Amazfit Active Edge Lands in Malaysia Just in Time for Christmas!

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Streetwear meets fitness come December 22, 2023 with the release of the Amazfit Active Edge. Announced earlier in October, the smartwatch is finally ready for its Malaysian debut. With the Active Edge, it’s all about robust health and the loud, gritty style of the streets.

Doubling Down on Street Grit Style

The Amazfit Active Edge is not your average smartwatch; it’s a hardcore companion for the street. Crafted to withstand the challenges of extreme activities, from skateboard tricks to BMX stunts, this watch embraces the bumps and scrapes that come with the territory. Professional skateboarder Haziq Ilham applauds the inclusion of a dedicated skateboarding sports mode, allowing users to track essential data during practice for performance improvement.

Haziq Amazfit Active Edge

It has a 1.32” HD AMOLED anti-fingerprint coated glass touchscreen balancing the size and style. The Amazfit Active Edge boasts a typical Amazfit 16-day battery life. It also has all the bells and whistles we have grown to expect from the brand. The Active Edge also has a Multi-Global Navigation Satellite System (Multi-GNSS) and route navigation for precise mapping of the cityscape, catering to the adventurous spirit of urban explorers.

Top Notch Health Monitoring

The Zepp Coach, Amazfit’s AI-driven fitness companion helps you track your health metrics while maximising your fitness. The watch can help you leverage aggregated data such as 24-hour heart rate, SpO2, and stress monitoring. The Zepp Coach can even create personalized training plans with the data. It has over a staggering 130 sports modes, including 7 auto-detected activities. What’s more, users can sync their data seamlessly with popular fitness platforms like Adidas Running, Strava, komoot, Relive, Google Fit, and Apple Health. This is possible thanks to Zepp OS 2.0.

The Amazfit Active Edge embraces dual-colour aesthetics, with Lava Black, Midnight Pulse, and Mint Green options, each complemented by a translucent strap, making a bold style statement. Its 10 ATM water resistance opens doors for water enthusiasts, ensuring reliability in activities including surfing, wakeboarding, or even cliff diving. Urbanites can confidently face rain, with the watch providing ample water resistance for everyday puddle adventures.

Amazfit Active Edge

For parkour enthusiasts, the watch’s durability shines through even in the most dynamic movements. Heart rate and blood oxygen tracking persist, ensuring comprehensive health insights. The Amazfit Active Edge doesn’t compromise on notifications, games, and the Peak Beats performance summary, keeping users connected and entertained on the move.

Pricing & Availability

The Amazfit Active Edge will officially be launching on December 22, 2023, the Amazfit Active Edge is available on Shopee and Lazada for RM599.00. Early birds will receive free earbuds with their purchase, but act fast – stock is limited.

Lifestyle, News

PRISM+ Expands Malaysian Footprint with New Retail Outlet in AEON Mall Bukit Tinggi

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PRISM+ is expanding its footprint with the inauguration of its sixth physical outlet at Aeon Mall Bukit Tinggi. The store located at L2-S18 is set to open its doors on December 16, 2023.

In conjunction with the opening and the festive season, PRISM+ is having an exclusive celebration for the grand opening. Starting from 10 am on Saturday, December 16, the first 50 customers at the new outlet will have the opportunity to enjoy substantial discounts on handpicked products. The exclusive grand opening offers are tailored to elevate your tech experience:

  • Q55-QE 4K Android TV: Grab it at an exclusive price of RM1,499 and receive a complimentary Logitech K400 Wireless Keyboard (Worth RM129).
  • Q65-QE 4K Android TV: Available at an exclusive rate of RM1,999.
  • X340 PRO 165Hz 34” Ultrawide Gaming Monitor: Secure it at an exclusive price of RM1,499 and receive a free Elevate X1 stand (worth RM299).
  • F240N 165Hz 24” Flat Gaming Monitor: Yours for an exclusive price of RM599.
  • X270 180Hz 27’’ Curved Gaming Monitor: Available at an exclusive rate of RM699, with a free Arc Lite Monitor Arm (worth RM699).
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These exclusive discounts are part of PRISM+’s festive sales extravaganza, offering early shoppers the chance to acquire cutting-edge electronics at remarkable prices. The product range spans Android TVs and gaming monitors, catering to the entertainment and gaming needs of discerning consumers.

The Christmas sales event not only signifies the opening of PRISM+’s sixth physical store; but also extends a warm invitation to tech enthusiasts and holiday shoppers to explore the latest in consumer electronics. With a limited number of early-bird offers up for grabs, PRISM+ aims to generate buzz and excitement surrounding its new outlet.

Whether you’re eyeing a 4K Android TV, an ultrawide gaming monitor, or a flat gaming monitor, PRISM+ at Aeon Mall Bukit Tinggi promises an immersive shopping experience on December 16th. Don’t miss the chance to be among the first 50 customers and capitalize on these exclusive discounts, adding a tech-savvy and budget-friendly touch to your holiday season.

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.

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.  

Android, Lifestyle, Mobile, Promos

OPPO Malaysia’s 10th Anniversary Year-End Sale

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OPPO Malaysia is marking its 10th anniversary with a Year-End Sale from 11 December 2023 to 2 January 2024. As part of this sale, there’ll be flash sale promotions, price drops, and a chance to win lucky draw prizes.

OPPO Flash Sale

Year End 2023 PR3

OPPO is running limited offer deals for their Flash Sale. The first 1,000 lucky individuals at each participating outlet can snag a discount of RM100 on the recently released OPPO A79. And that’s not all – the Reno 10 Series is also getting in on the action with a RM200 discount. Here are the spotlight offers and promo prices:

  • OPPO A79: RM1,099 (RRP: RM1,199)
  • OPPO Reno 10: RM1,599 (RRP: RM1,799)
  • OPPO Reno 10 Pro: RM1,799 (RRP: RM1,999)

Price Drop on OPPO Smartphones

Year End 2023 PR4

If you’ve been eyeing the OPPO A58 and OPPO A38 smartphones, this is also an opportunity to get them at a nice discount:

  • OPPO A58 (6GB+128GB): RM649 (RRP: RM699)
  • OPPO A38: RM549(RRP: RM599)

“Enjoy the Present” Lucky Draw

If you’re looking to win big, every smartphone purchase will also open the door to the “Enjoy the Present” Lucky Draw on the My OPPO App. OPPO has a pool of prizes valued at RM1 million to giveaway! You can win prizes including the OPPO Pad 2 (worth RM2,599), OPPO Pad Air 4+64GB (worth RM899), OPPO Enco Buds2 (worth RM129), OPPO Enco Air3 (worth RM249), and OPPO Band 2 (worth RM249).

Those who purchase any OPPO smartphone worth RM1,000 and above will also earn an extra entry in the Lucky Draw. Simply sign up or log in to the My OPPO App. After that, head to the ‘Lucky Draw’ tab under ‘Activities’ on the Homepage, and click “GO” to try your luck.

OPPO is also giving more this holiday season with their giveaway campaign. Play the “Enjoy the Present” game on OPPO Malaysia’s Official Facebook page, and you can stand a chance to win Red Box Karaoke Cash Vouchers worth RM200. Here’s how you can participate:

  1. Visit the campaign post on OPPO Malaysia’s Official Facebook Page.
  2. Play the game, screenshot your results.
  3. Post your screenshot in the comment section using the hashtags and .

For more exclusive deals, you can check out OPPO’s official online store, MY OPPO Space, and other participating stores.

Lifestyle, News

Samsung Introduces New Shop App

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Samsung is ready to change the way you shop with its new Shop app. Designed to enhance your shopping experience, this app brings a range of benefits and features to your fingertips. For the first in-app purchase by a Samsung Account user, enjoy an exclusive 10% welcome voucher (capped at RM200) using the code SHOPAPP10 at checkout. This offer is valid until January 16, 2024.

Unveiling the Future of Shopping The Launch of Samsung Shop App KV
Source: Samsung Malaysia Electronics

The Samsung Shop App will allow users to access exclusive deals and promotions specially tailored for app users, ranging from limited-time discounts to special bundles. It will also give users instant updates on promotions, flash sales, and exclusive launches.

Users who sign up for the Samsung Shop App will be able to earn and redeem Samsung Rewards Points. You will accumulate points with each purchase and be able to redeem them for future purchases, making your shopping experience more rewarding.

You’ll also be able to track your Samsung orders effortlessly. The app allows you to track your orders in real-time, maintaining control from checkout to doorstep delivery. If you need assistance, the Shop app will connect you with chat agents for personalized support and guidance during your shopping journey.

You can download the Samsung Shop App on the Google Play Store now to up your Samsung shopping experience.

Consumer Electronics, Health, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

The Black Shark S1 Pro Smartwatch is Now Available in Malaysia.

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Black Shark S1 Pro

Black Shark, a known gaming and tech brand, has recently launched its flagship smartwatch in Malaysia, the Black Shark S1 Pro. Packed with impressive features and a rugged design, this smartwatch aims to cater to the needs of tech-savvy Malaysians.

The Black Shark S1 Pro boasts a rugged design, making it suitable for outdoor activities. It features a 1.43-inch AMOLED display with a 466 x 466 pixels resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and up to 600 nits peak brightness. The watch is also rated IP68 for water and dust resistance, making it a wonderful wearable for any adventure and still holds up, whether water or dust.

Besides that, the smartwatch offers comprehensive health and fitness tracking capabilities. It includes heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen level measurement, sleep tracking, and gaming health monitoring. With over 150 watch faces and more than 100 fitness modes, users can personalise their experience and track their activities effectively.

But that is not the best part. The most interesting feature of this smartwatch is that it is equipped with a built-in voice assistant powered by Chat GPT. The Chat GPT integration allows this voice assistant to answer various questions that the user can think from serious to mere random. These nifty features can be used for quick information and assistance, no matter when and where.

Black Shark S1 Pro Smartwatch pricing

Furthermore, the Black Shark S1 Pro offers Bluetooth-based calling and notifications, allowing users to stay connected without reaching for their smartphones. It also supports NFC for convenient contactless payments. Regarding battery life, the smartwatch can last up to 15 days of regular use and up to 30 days on extended standby, ensuring long-lasting performance.

The Black Shark S1 Pro is available in Malaysia in two colour options: Black and Blue. It is priced at RM399 and can be bought from their official stores on Lazada and Shopee

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.

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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.

Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Messenger Gets a Security Makeover Among Others Updates.

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Facebook META messenger encryption

Great news for everyone concerned about their privacy, especially those frequent users of Messenger. End-to-end encryption is now the default for one-on-one conversations and calls on Facebook Messenger. This means your interactions will be safe from curious and privy eyes.

End-to-end encryption was once an optional feature on Messenger, but this latest update is now the standard. This is a significant change, albeit a positive one for the messenger app, as its users can feel more secure with their messages and conversations that are now under lock and key, and their messages will be automatically protected, too, with no need to turn on the option.

With end-to-end encryptions, no matter who you are conversing with, all the contents of your message are protected and unable to be intercepted. Not even Meta can access them unless specifically reported.

Nothing else to worry about as all the messenger functions will stay the same, so you can still use all your favourite features. Features like themes, custom reactions, and other messenger tools will still be accessible in encrypted chats.

Of course, the implementation of this adjustment will take some time. So don’t be concerned if you haven’t seen the changeover yet. It will happen gradually over the following months. While Messenger’s chats are now encrypted by default, this isn’t applied to Instagram chats yet. Currently, they are still unencrypted by default. However, Meta has stated that this feature will be included “shortly after” the launch of encrypted Messenger.

This shift towards end-to-end encryption is part of a more significant trend in the tech sector. For a good reason, an increasing number of messaging systems are making the switch. It is simply the best approach to ensure your chats remain private and secure, which is only meant between you and the others messaging.

Among the exciting shift in security for messenger chats they are also adding some new features that are sure to have messenger users jumping with joy as they are much needed after so long. Some new features also being implemented are the ability to edit messages sent under 15 minutes, similar to WhatsApp. So, no longer will you have to delete or resend a message. You can now just as easily edit it through the original one.

01 Edit a Message
02 Edit a Message

Besides that, they are also adding disappearing messages, which will last about 24 hours after it is sent, so this will ensure more secure or private messaging scenes for those who would not have a specific message kept for long. And they are also implementing a screenshot security feature, so if anyone were to try to take a screenshot of your disappearing message, you will be notified of the actions.

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Disappearing messages on Messenger

Messenger is also adding a way for users to finally control their read receipts, so instead of turning off the entire thing, users can now decide if they want others to see if they have read their messages. Lastly, Meta is proud to announce that with these updates on Messenger, they have upgraded the quality of images and videos sent in Messenger.

04 HD Media on Messenger
05 HD Media on Messenger

They are also testing an HD media and file-sharing feature to improve its quality for messenger users continuously. Among that, they are also adding a feature that will allow the user to fast forward their voice messages up to 1.5 or 2X speed and the ability to navigate away from the chat while listening to the voice message. Currently, these are the most significant updates and improvements done to Messenger in a long time and were much needed.