Category Archives: Mobile

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Streamlined for Productivity & Creativity

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S series is getting much-needed housekeeping and streamlining with the introduction of the Galaxy Tab S9 series. Samsung has removed a lot of the confusion and mess that was present in the previous iterations of the Tab S series. Every variant from the base Galaxy Tab S9 to the Tab S9 Ultra has the same design ethos and features unifying the experience across the board.

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The Tab S9 series is the first tablet to have an IP68 rating making it water and dust resistant. This also means that you will be able to use Samsung’s latest tablet come rain or shine. The tablet also comes with support for the S Pen. This time, you won’t need to worry about the orientation of the S Pen when attaching it to the back of the tablet to charge it. Samsung has made the charging mechanism for the S Pen orientation independent allowing you to charge it in any orientation. Samsung also announced a special Creator Edition S Pen which comes with better tactility and a wider tilt angle for drawing.

All the variants of the Tab S9 series come with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The base Tab S9 comes with a 11-inch display while the Tab S9+ comes with a 12.4-inch display and the Ultra tops the series out with a 14.6-inch display. The media experience of the Tab S series is rounded off with a quad-speaker setup that is professionally tuned by AKG. The speakers are 20% larger than the previous Tab S and also support Dolby Atmos.

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The Galaxy Tab S9 series comes with all the software features we’ve come to expect when it comes to a large-screen experience with Samsung devices. Multiwindow gets an improvement with support for up to 3 simultaneous apps in an organised grid. DeX is also making a comeback on the Tab S9 series bringing a desktop experience to the tablet.

The Tab S9 series comes with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy. This is complemented by up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage. On the camera end of things, the front camera on the S9 and S9+ is a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera while the S9 Ultra comes with a dual 12-megapixel setup. On the back, the base S9 comes with a single 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor while the S9+ and the S9 Ultra come with a dual sensor setup with a 13-megapixel main sensor and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide sensor.

Samsung is also partnering with apps to bring them exclusively to the Galaxy Tab S9 series. Popular video editing app LumaFusion, note-taking app GoodNotes and CAD and design application ArcSite will be available exclusively on the Tab S9 series with special offers for users with the Tab S9.

Pricing & Availability

The Galaxy Tab S9 series will be available in two colours – Graphite and Beige. In Malaysia, prices for the Galaxy Tab S9 series will start from MYR3,699 while it will retail internationally with prices starting at USD$999. Detailed pricing is in the table below.

ModelRRP
Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra 5G with keyboard(512GB)RM7,149
Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra 5G with keyboard (256GB)RM6,649
Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra with keyboard (512GB)RM6,499
Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra with keyboard (256GB)RM5,999
Galaxy Tab S9+ 5G with keyboard (512GB)RM5,849
Galaxy Tab S9+ with keyboard (512GB)RM5,199
Galaxy Tab S9+ 5G (256GB)RM5,249
Galaxy Tab S9+ (256GB)RM4,599
Galaxy Tab S9 5G with keyboard (256GB)RM4,849
Galaxy Tab S9 with keyboard (256GB)RM4,199
Galaxy Tab S9 5G (128GB)RM4,349
Galaxy Tab S9 (128GB)RM3,699

Preorders for the Tab S9 series start today and end on the 17 of August 2023. Preorders are entitled to a free double storage upgrade worth MYR600, 50% off the Book Cover Keyboard and a free 12-month subscription to Viu. If you buy from the Samsung Online Store you’ll be able to get an MYR100 e-voucher for your next purchase.

The New Galaxy Z Flip5 Debuts with FlexWindow and a Gapless Hinge

Samsung’s foldable devices were one of the first devices to make it on the scene. This year, the company is working on refining the smartphone experience with new software enhancements and features as well as fine-tuning the design with meaningful updates. The new Galaxy Z Flip5 is leading the charge with an even bigger cover display – now known as the FlexWindow and a refined hinge.

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The cover display of the Galaxy Z Flip5 has been supersized and replaced with a 3.4-inch display which covers the whole top cover of the smartphone. The new FlexWindow comes with a totally revamped experience with more functional widgets and a whole new user experience. Like its predecessors, the FlexWindow will still support features like using it for epic selfies with FlexCam and glancing notifications. Using gestures, you’ll be able to access features like Samsung Wallet to access IDs, boarding passes and payment cards as well as widgets from your favourite apps.

The second biggest change is the hinge that the Galaxy Z Flip5 uses. Samsung has reduced the number of moving parts in the new Flex hinge. This has not only reduced the thickness of the Flip5 by about 2mm but has also eliminated the gap on the smartphone when closed. Yes – there is no gap in the hinge when closed.

Under the hood, the Galaxy Z Flip5 comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy. This is complemented by up to 512GB of internal storage and up to 12GB of RAM. The Z Flip5 comes with a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The cover display is a Super AMOLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate.

The main camera of the Flip5 is a dual camera setup with a 12-megapixel wide sensor and a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor. On the front, is a 10-megapixel selfie camera. The new foldable’s cameras come with Nightography which Samsung has been pushing with their flagship Galaxy S23 series and Galaxy A series. It also comes with auto-framing to help enhance the hands-free camera experience with Flex Mode.

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This year’s Galaxy Z Flip5 will also be foregoing the BESPOKE edition we’ve come to expect from the Flip line up. Instead, Samsung is introducing the FlipSuit Case which allows you to customise your Flip5 without the hefty price of a new phone. All you have to do is pop on the case and use one of the NFC enabled plates and it will seamlessly synchronise your FlexWindow with the design of the case. Samsung informs us that there will be new designs and exclusive partnerships coming at a later date.

Pricing & Availability

The Galaxy Z Flip5 will be available in Mint, Graphite, Lavender and Cream at launch. Additional colours like Yellow, Green, Gray and Blue are available exclusively on Samsung.com.

In Malaysia, the Flip5 will be retailing at MYR4,499 for the 256GB version and MYR4,999 for the 512GB version. Internationally, it will be available starting at USD$999.

Galaxy Z Flip5 Galaxy Z Fold5 Pre Order

Pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 start today and end on August 17 2023. Pre-orders will be entitled to a free double storage upgrade worth MYR500 and up to 40% off purchase-with-purchase on Samsung accessories, Samsung Care+, Galaxy Tablets, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds series. If you pre-order from the Samsung Online Store, you’ll be able to get an e-voucher worth up to MYR600 on your next purchase.

During the pre-order period, trade-ins of older devices will be entitled to an additional rebate of up to MYR600 under the Enhanced Trade-in Program.

Samsung’s New Galaxy Z Fold5 Is Built for Productivity with a Slimmer S Pen & Slimmer Silhouette

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold5 is looking to further the company’s approach to larger display foldable devices. It keeps a lot of the best of the Z Fold lineup while improving where its predecessors lacked. The new Z Fold5 is 2.4mm slimmer when folded and has a sturdier hinge.

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The Galaxy Z Fold5 comes with Samsung’s new Flex Hinge. The new hinge comes with fewer moving parts and a slimmer, more seamless profile. It also helps prevent creasing on the display by keeping it in a waterdrop shape. The hinge is also sturdier and can fold at more angles than before allowing you to get more functionality from FlexMode. It’s also water resistant this year with an IPX8 rating.

The cover screen on the Galaxy Z Fold5 is a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with HD+ resolution. The main screen is a Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display with a QXGA resultion of 2176×1812 pixels. Both screens have a 120Hz refresh rate. The Z Fold5 cotninues to support the S Pen. In fact, Samsung has redesigned the S Pen for Fold and made it slimmer and sleeker. The new S Pen case also integrates the S Pen silo seamlessly without added bulk.

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The Z Fold5 comes with the same camera setup as the Fold4. The main sensor is a 50-megapixel wide Dual Pixel sensor with Phase dectection Autofocus (PDAF) and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). This is complemented with a 12-megapixel ultra wide sensor and a 10-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. On the front, on the cover display, there’s a 10-megapixel selfie camera while under the flexible display, there’s a 4-megapixel selfie camera.

Under the hood, the Fold5 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy. It comes complemented by 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage. Powering all of this is a 4,400mAh battery wwith support for Fast Charging and fast wireless charging 2.0.

Pricing & Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Fold5 will be available in Icy Blue, Phantom Black and Cream. Additional colours like Gray and Blue will be available exclusively from the Samsung Online Store.

In Malaysia, the Fold5 will be available in three configurations. The 256GB version of the smartphone will cost MYR6,799; the 512GB version will cost MYR7,299; while the 1TB version will cost MYR8,299. Internationally, prices will start at USD$1,799.

Galaxy Z Flip5 Galaxy Z Fold5 Pre Order

Pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 start today and end on August 17 2023 together with the Flip5, Tab S9 series and Watch6 series. Pre-orders will be entitled to a free double storage upgrade worth MYR500 and up to 40% off purchase-with-purchase on Samsung accessories, Samsung Care+, Galaxy Tablets, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds series. If you pre-order from the Samsung Online Store, you’ll be able to get an e-voucher worth up to MYR600 on your next purchase.

During the pre-order period, trade-ins of older devices will be entitled to an additional rebate of up to MYR600 under the Enhanced Trade-in Program.

Android KitKat Takes Its Final Break as Google Play Officially Ends Support

Google’s dessert-themed Android update has become stale. Well, not really. It’s just that Google Play is officially ending support for devices running Android 4.4 KitKat. This doesn’t come out of the blue as Google has been actively retiring support for older versions of the OS to ensure that the OS platform and the Play Store remain secure.

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Source: Google

Android 4.4, aka Android KitKat, has been around for nearly 10 years already. The update was one of the most significant updates for the Android operating system at the time. The update brought an overhaul and standardization to the design language of Android at the time.

According to the latest breakdown of Android versions on the market, Android KitKat stood at 0.5% of devices currently available globally. It seems like it’s enough for Google to finally end support for the version on the Google Play Store. The same report also indicated that Android 5.0 and Android 6 are at 1.8% and 2.3% respectively.

It goes without saying, if you have a device running Android KitKat you may want to update it before August 2023 if you can. Otherwise, you won’t be able to use the Play Store anymore. If there’s no official updates, many Android smartphones and tablets are well supported by the community with more updated versions of the OS based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) that you can sideload.

Sony Unveils the Best Ever WF-1000XM5 – Available in August 2023 for MYR 1,299!

Sony’s WF-1000XM4 that we reviewed last year was, in our opinion, one of the best, if not the best high-end noise cancelling earbuds your money can buy. Sony really knows how to make audio gear and thanks to their knowhow in active noise cancelling (ANC) technologies, you expect nothing less with their high-end noise cancelling audio gears. But that is also a problem in itself made by Sony for themselves. How do you top their best product? While the answer is simply; “make everything better”, it really is not as simple as that.

Of course, while Sony still holds the lead in active noise cancelling headphones, there are players in the industry who are catching up. Apple, for example, introduced their 2nd generation AirPods Pro to a success and with stellar reviews on its aural and noise cancelling performances. Sony cannot just be content with their WF-1000XM4. They do need to push the envelopes a little. They have with the WF-1000XM5.

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Despite being the ‘mark 5’ in the bunch, this is not Sony’s 5th generation ANC earbuds. It is, in fact, their 4th generation high-end earbuds. The earbuds also do not look totally dissimilar with the ‘mark 4’. It is supposedly 25% smaller and 20% lighter than before though. We think that Sony is going for that signature timeless look with their higher-end earphones now, sort of like what they are doing with their Xperia smartphones line-up.

Inside is a completely different earbuds compared to the WF-1000XM4 though. We start with the new driver; they call it the Dynamic Driver X unit. The new Dynamic Driver X is almost similar in size to the previous driver, but is developed specifically for the latest generation WF-1000 earbuds. According to Sony, the driver design offers a combination of materials from the dome to the edge of the diaphragm structure. What this does, according to them, is to reduce distortion on both high-end and low-end frequencies allowing the engineers to pump more power into the driver to produce detailed highs and powerful bass. Of course, they have not forgotten that a balanced audio reproduction requires a balanced and detailed mid-tone too.

Unlike the older WF-1000XM4, the new WF-1000XM5 comes packing two processors. They have a brand-new Noise Cancelling Processor QN2e and Integrated Processor V2. The Integrated Processor V2 now enables the earbuds to process 24-bit audio and offers high-performance noise amplification for super rich audio unlike anything you might have experienced in a pair of wireless earbuds. Of course, you still get Hi-Res support thanks to LDAC and DSEE Extreme. Sony’s highly acclaimed 360 Reality Audio now also comes with head tracking technology that ensures that your sound moves accordingly creating an even higher immersion than ever before.

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Source: Sony

Alongside three mics on each earbud, the dedicated noise cancelling processor delivers noise cancelling performance and ambient noise mode even better than you find on the WF-1000XM4. They say that thanks to the three-mic combo, ambient noise can be captured more accurately than before resulting in a much more natural feel of your surroundings. Because noise is picked up much more accurately as well, the noise cancelling algorithm is more precise and therefore works better in noisy environments. You also get Sony’s clever polyurethane foam materials that passively cancels noise in the environment for a better seal in your ears.

Sony also claims that the new WF-1000XM5 offers better call quality than ever before. You still get the beamforming mic that was first introduced in the previous earphones. They have employed cleverer AI algorithms in the new earphones based on Deep Neutral Network (DNN) processing working alongside new bone conduction sensors to accurately pick up your voice. The result should be a more natural sounding, cleaner, and clearer voice at least from your end during a call.

Despite being smaller, the IPX4 water-resistant body of the WF-1000XM5 contains a battery that offers up to 8 hours of continuous listening time on a single charge. Of course, the case carries extra charges for the earbuds for up to 24 hours of listening time. You can also charge the earbuds wirelessly, like its predecessor. Thanks to Multipoint Connect, you can pair the WF-1000XM5 with up to two devices simultaneously, though you might have to sacrifice LDAC capabilities.

Price and Availability

Sony’s WF-1000XM5 will be available in two colour options, just like before. You can get it in black or silver when it is available in August 2023 onward. It will set you back MYR 1,299, which is more expensive than the previous WF-1000XM4 that sold for MYR 1,099 at launch. More on the Sony WF-1000XM5 can be found on their website.

Yes 5G Better (2)gether with a Free Nothing Phone (2)

The Nothing Phone (2) was only just announced last week. The smartphone made its Malaysian debut at the Nothing Drop on the 15th of July at Crossover in Mid Valley Megamall in Malaysia. The drop was sold out in a matter of hours. Now, the smartphone is becoming more accessible with a partnership with Yes 5G by YTL Communications.

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Source: Yes 5G

The partnership will bring the Nothing Phone (2) to consumers at no cost – just a subscription to Yes 5G’s Infinite+ Ultra Plan for MYR178. The subscription comes with unlimited, unthrottled data on both 5G and 4G networks, 110GB data for hotspot and tethering, unlimited domestic calls, and – if you need it – supplementary lines at MYR20. Of course, to be eligible for the free Nothing Phone (2), you will need to sign a contract for 3 years.

That said if you don’t want to be on a contract for 3 years, you can opt to get the Nothing Phone (2) with their Yes Infinite Basic Plan at a discounted subscription price of MYR38. The plan comes with similar features as the Infinite+ Ultra plan with a more limited 20GB of data for tethering and hotspot. Subscribing to this plan with entitle you to a Nothing Phone (2) at MYR3,499. However, you do get an MYR20 rebate on the MYR58 plan for 12 months, giving you savings of MYR240.

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Source: Yes 5G Online Store

The offer is available online from the Yes Online Store, Yes Exclusive Stores and at selected Yes Flagship stores starting on July 22, 2023. If you can’t wait until then, you can pre-register for Yes 5G’s open sale happening on July 22, 2023. The first 100 customers at the Yes Experience Store at Lot 10 in Kuala Lumpur can purchase the Nothing Phone (2) with the exclusive Nothing Launch Edition set which comes bundles with the Ear (Stick), a 45W adapter and a case for the Phone (2).

Play As Son Goku, Vegeta or Piccolo in the New Version 2.7 Update for PUBG Mobile

PUBG Mobile has been on a roll lately with its updates. The new version 2.7 update also marks a new content collaboration with the popular anime franchise Dragon Ball – more specifically with the latest installation in the long-running anime Dragon Ball Super. The new content partnership will see two new additional modes in PUBG Mobile and kicks off on 13th July and will run until September 4th 2023.

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Shenron, Ki & Dragon Balls Reimagine Gameplay

During this time, players can take part in a new Dragon Ball Super Themed Mode where they will have to search for the seven Dragon Balls to reign supreme. The new mode will happen in-game and will continue to have PUBG Mobile’s signature PvP battle royale gameplay. Upon collecting the seven sacred spheres, players will be able to summon Shenron at the Shenron Summoning Altar for powerful in-game buffs. The altar is also the cornerstone of a new hidden Dragon Ball trial where you’ll need to gather all seven balls, defend the altar and make a wish; all while being completely exposed to your enemies. Yep – they’ll be able to see your every move!

There are also four new Dragon Ball Super areas in-game, more specifically in the Erangel, Livik and Sanhok areas. The Dragon Ball Village”, “Tenkaichi Budokai”, “Kame House”, and “Karin Tower” areas will look familiar to Dragon Ball Super aficionados as they’re built to resemble areas and the architecture from the series. What’s more, they’ll have goodies that may just come in useful in your quest for that Chicken Dinner. You can even ride the Air Car to traverse the battlegrounds.

PUBG Mobile’s version 2.7 update also comes with a new “Ki” component which allows players to gather “Ki” for increased mobility. You’ll even be able to use the legendary skill – “Kamehameha” – to make quick work of your enemies.

PUBG Mobile Goes Full Dragon Ball Super

PUBG Mobile will also be taking things a step further as it adopts the signature animated art style of Dragon Ball Super. The stylistic change will take place between July 15 and September 4th 2023. During this time, players will be able to play as Son Goku, Vegeta, Frieza, Piccolo and Ultimate Gohan complete with their signature moves in their quest to be the last one standing.

As part of this brand-new mode, you will be able to gather Spirit Crystlets and Spirit Crystals from the ground to restore energy and upgrade your moves with a cap at Level 4. In addition, you’ll be able to traverse and manipulate the map with a variety of new features such as Teleport Points and Updraft.

There will also be exclusive outfits during this collaboration which feature Goku, Vegeta and Frieza and even companions Pilaf and Karin. But that’s not all, Tencent Games is teasing even more coming on August 14, 2023.

Nothing Phone (2) has Launched – All-Around Better

The first-generation Nothing Phone (1) launched with not too much fanfare. But it did attract a lot of attention with its bold transparent design and all the LEDs that lights the back of the device up like nothing we have ever seen before. The LED lights and the different combinations you can get with the LEDs can be used as notification indicators for different apps. In regular devices with LEDs,

The Nothing Phone (1) did not pack hardware that is worth shouting about though. It made and sold squarely in the mid-range smartphone segment category. Still, the mid-range smartphone segment is currently the most competitive segment of the industry, even more so than the flagship segment. Innovation in the segment does not come in the form of powerful hardware or Megapixel on cameras. Innovation in this market is offering the more creative solution to common problems, offering flagship smartphone experiences, while ensuring that the device itself is still affordable and accessible to general users. That was the Nothing Phone tough, an innovative mid-range offering that ticks all of the boxes of a smartphone and even more with its unique approach to design. The Nothing Phone (2) that just launched continues that design philosophy.

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The Nothing Phone (2) follows almost the same recipe that made the first Nothing Phone a great success. It has innovative transparent design, and an updated hardware that is still no slouch in anyway you look at it. Everything is better than before though on the new Phone (2).

For starters, you get a flagship class Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 system on a chip (SoC) that is still a relevant chipset today, even with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Paired up with a 12GB RAM and up to 512GB of storage, you are getting flagship levels of performance. All that keeps the Nothing OS 2.0 based on Android 13 running smoothly on the 6.7-inch OLED LTPO display boasting up to 120hz in refresh rate. They also say that the new interface is twice faster to start up than the older interface on the older device.

Out the back is a dual camera set up that offers 50-Megapixel photos on both ends. Of course, one is a regular wide camera offering 24mm in focal length, while the other is an Ultra-Wide shooter that should offer you more creative freedom when the photography bug hits you. Out the front is a 32-Megapixel shooter for clearer selfies or better-looking video calls. With the new interface, the camera also gets a few extra features like Advanced HDR and Motion Capture 2.0. The new 50-Megapixel main shooter also offers an advanced 18-bit Image Signal Processor that allows the Nothing Phone (2) to process up to 4,000 times more data than the first-generation Nothing Phone offering better accuracy in both photos and videos. Its combined Electronic (EIS) and Optical (OIS) image stabilizers allows you to record smooth 4K videos at 60fps.

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Source: Nothing

Underneath the transparent body is a large 4,700 mAh battery that offers an entire day of battery life or more depending on your use case. When you do run out, charging it to 50% takes just 20 minutes. You can even charge it wirelessly if you want to.

The unique aspect of the Nothing Phone (2) is still the iconic Glyph Interface inherited from the first Nothing Phone. They have improved the Glyph Interface for the second-generation Nothing flagship smartphone though. There are more LED segments than before, allowing better customizability and even more options for users. It can also work as a countdown timer for anything from rides via a hailing service, or delivery progress. Of course, that also means that the Glyph Interface now works as a timer too. You can even check your smartphone’s volume just via the LEDs out the back. There is a new algorithm called the Essential Glyph Notifications where you can still receive notifications from select apps or even contacts. The top-right LED segment will be kept on until you address the notifications or calls. There is also something called the Glyph Composer now where you can personalize the smartphone experience by creating your own personalized Glyph Ringtones.

Availability and Price

The Nothing Phone (2) will be available in Malaysia 22nd of July 2023 onward from Nothing’s official online stores on Shopee and Lazada, along with Nothing’s authorized retailers across the nation. You can choose between two colours, however the most affordable 8GB + 128GB option is only available in black colour option. For the White colour option, you only get to choose between a 12GB + 256GB offering or a 12GB + 512GB variant. There are no mentions of its official pricing in Malaysia just yet. It will be available in select markets 17th of July 2023 onward forwith prices starting from US$ 599 (MYR 2,786*). Based on that, you can expect the Nothing Phone (2) to be priced north of MYR 2,500 onward. More on the Nothing Phone (2) can be found on their website.

*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.65 as of 12/07/2023 on xe.com

Apple Releases a Rapid Security Response update to the iOS 16.5.1. Why? Security Reasons, obviously.

Apple has updated its latest iOS 16 to version iOS 16.5 rather recently. Even more recently, they have just released the 16.5.1 version of the iOS 16.5. Apparently, they have just updated the 16.5.1 again. While being only a 2.7MB update, it is a critical one.

Apple labels this as one of their Rapid Security Response updates for their software. Alongside the Apple iPhone, the iPad is also getting the Rapid Security Response for the iPadOS 16.5.1. As per the release notes, the iOS 16.5.1(a) update is available for iPhones with iOS 16.5.1. But it is not just the iPhone and iPad that is getting a security update. At the same time, Apple is releasing security updates for MacOS Ventura [13.4.1 (a)] and Safari (16.5.2).

The thing about Apple’s security updates is that they can be rather vague in their description. According to their release notes, the update addresses “web content processing that may lead to arbitrary code execution”. According to Apple as well, there has been reports on the issue being heavily exploited, hence the need for iOS 16.5.1 (a) update. The release notes says that the update will bring “improved checks” to address the issue, whatever that means.

Rapid Security Response updates are important updates, they tend to patch security issues that has been reported or found. That also means that it is recommended that users on the latest iOS to check for their updates if they have not been updated yet. It is a relatively small update too, which also means that you might not have too much trouble or too long of a downtime with your iPhone when you do update your device. Once updated, your iPhone will request that you restart your device. Once you do so, your device should display iOS 16.5.1 (a) instead of the regular iOS 16.5.1 when you check its software version.

Xiaomi Redmi 12 is Launched in Malaysia at MYR 599 Onward!

We get a lot of emails (not really) asking us; “we only have MYR 599 maximum to buy a smartphone, what do we buy?”. We sometimes will tell them to just bump their budget up a little bit to afford better, mid-range devices – especially if it is going to be their daily driver. Secondary device? Whatever works if it serves your calling and messaging purposes. What if you only have MYR 599 for a daily driver though? Can you still get a decent daily driver for that kind of money? With Xiaomi, it turns out, you can.

Take the Xiaomi Redmi 12 that was just launched for example. It is worth MYR 599, right on your budget. If you plan to get it at its launch (15th of July 2023), it will be MYR 100 below your budget too at MYR 499. It is an entry-level device but comes with everything you need in a daily driver device.

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For starters, it packs MediaTek’s Helio G88 system on a chip (SoC) that clocks in at 2.0GHz. While the Helio G88 is not the most powerful processor you can find on an Android device, it is still no slouch when it comes to daily tasking and multitasking, especially with memory extension capabilities. You get up to 8GB of RAM with the device, enough to take on anything you might want to throw at it. With memory expansion, you will get more than 8GB of RAM to play with too for even better multitasking capabilities.

You also get up to 256GB of storage with it to store all kinds of things like your photos and videos. If that is not enough, you get to expand the storage to up to 1TB with a MicroSD card. You want this kind of storage for the kind of camera you get on the device.

You get a 50-Megapixel main shooter out the back of the device. Alongside the main camera is an 8-Megapixel ultra-wide camera and 2-Megapixel macro camera. The camera app on the device also offers seven different filmCamera filters that offer a different kind of photographic experience and creative choices. If you do take plenty of photos in 50-Megapixel, you will fill up the storage quickly.

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Source: Xiaomi

If you are taking plenty of photos, you also want a large battery for it. The Redmi 12 comes with 5,000mAh of battery capacity. They say that the large battery can offer 23 days of standby time, 133 hours of music playback, 26 hours of online reading or 16 hours of continuous video playback. Your video is played on a high-resolution Full HD+ DotDisplay with 90Hz refresh rate measuring 6.79-inch. You can watch and read on the display for a long time as well with their low blue-light mode and Reading Mode 3.0 that protects your eyes at the same time.

Of course, it comes with everything you need in a daily driver like water resistance rating at IP 53. At 8.17mm, it is thin enough to be a regular mid-range or look like a flagship device. Unlike most flagship and mid-range smartphones, the Redmi 12 still offers you the convenience of a 3.5mm AUX combo jack. Its USB Type-C port also supports 18W of fast charging.

Price and Availability

The Xiaomi Redmi 12 is available in Midnight Black, Sky Blur, and Polar Silver colour options. As mentioned, prices start at MYR 599 (4GB + 128GB). It will be available 15th of July 2023 from authorised Xiaomi Stores, including official online stores at Shopee and Lazada. As mentioned earlier, if you do get it on the first sale date, you can get your Xiaomi Redmi 12 smartphone for MYR 499. For more information on the Xiaomi Redmi 12, you can head out to their website.