Niantic, the studio behind Pokemon GO, has just announced that it will be shuttering its AR Harry Potter game. Harry Potter: Wizards Unite was the studio’s second foray into creating real-world AR games for a large franchise. The game debuted back in 2019 hot off the heels of Pokemon GO.
However, it looks like the Harry Potter game isn’t fairing as well as its predecessor. The company announced that wizards and witches still immersed in the game will be casting their last spell on January 31, 2022. The game will be delisted from the Google Play Store, App Store and Galaxy Store come December 6, 2021. In-app purchases will be disabled on the same day. This means that you will no longer be able to download the app or buy any in-game items come 6 December.
That said, Niantic isn’t simply leaving players high and dry when it comes to content. The studio guarantees that it will be wrapping game storylines before shutting down. In its blog post, the company detailed a number of events that will be playable leading up to January 31, 2022. Events will kick off starting in November.
The events are listed below:
November
Dolores Umbridge Lethal Adversaries Event
Half-Blood Prince Brilliant Event Part 1
Lucius Malfoy Lethal Adversaries Event
Half-Blood Prince Brilliant Event Part 2
December
Bellatrix Lethal Adversaries Event
Horcrux Hunt Part 2
Voldemort Lethal Adversaries Event
Deathly Hallows Brilliant Event Part 1
Holiday Event
Deathly Hallows Brilliant Event Part 2
In addition to these events, Niantic will also be making changes to gameplay to allow players to complete pending quests in anticipation of the closure. The first few changes have come into effect on November 2, 2021. This includes increased rewards, quicker brewing times and increased spell energy and ingredient spawns.
Harry Potter: Wizards Unite players will have until January 31, 2022, to complete the game and use up their in-game items. Niantic notes that beyond this date, players will be unable to access anything from the game as servers will be taken offline. In addition, it is saying that there will be no refunds for in-game purchases.
WhatsApp is full of wonders. It is, despite the whole Facebook Privacy Policy debacle earlier this year, the most popular alternative messaging app we have seen. No manufacturer has ever seen this kind of success with their own messaging platform. This includes BlackBerry in their hey day mind you.
Being on top is not all sunshine and roses though. To stay on top, as they say, you have to keep pushing boundaries. WhatsApp, of course is constantly improving and adding new features to their app to keep users happy and excited at least. The most recent possible update to WhatsApp in the future? Deleting messages.
Yes, deleting messages used to be something you cannot do with WhatsApp. Before you say we are outdated, hear us out. We know that it is now a thing on WhatsApp. At this point of time, you can delete messages that are no older than an hour and eight minutes. At its early days, WhatsApp only allow you to delete fresh messages no older than seven minutes.
Recently though, WABetaInfo has spotted a new feature on the latest beta version of WhatsApp. The latest beta 2.21.220.15 for iOS as per available to WABetaInfo allows users to delete messages not two hours older, not even just a day older. It now allows you to delete messages that are three months old.
WABetaInfo speculates that the new update might point to one of two things. Either WhatsApp is looking to extend the time limit on their delete messages feature or remove the time limit completely. They are also speculating that the update may open up even more avenues to deleting messages even before the feature was introduced.
While all these are under development and that should be cause enough for excitement, there are no official word from Meta (formerly known as Facebook) and WhatsApp themselves just yet. The features in development remain as a potential feature to the app and not an actual feature until it is launched in any of WhatsApp many updates. In that sense, nobody knows when all these developments will become a feature, only time can tell.
With Google announcing the stable release of the latest version of their mobile operating system, Android 12, manufacturers have started announcing their own plans for the update to roll out to their stable of devices. The latest one to do so is ASUS.
ASUS has previously proven that they will be providing two years of updates for their phones. That roughly equates to two major updates. They have also provided security patches for about three years. That said, ASUS will continue to use this policy for their devices moving forward.
With the rollout of Android 12, it looks like the Zenfone 6 has reached the end of its life; so there will be no update for the smartphone. According to their official press note, the phones receiving the update are the Zenfone 7, Zenfone 7 Pro, ROG Phone 3, ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition, Zenfone 8, Zenfone 8 Flip, ROG Phone 5, ROG Phone Ultimate, ROG Phone 5s, and ROG Phone 5s Pro. That’s pretty much their latest lineup of devices since 2019.
According to their announcement, the ASUS Zenfone 8 and 8 Flip will be the first of their devices to get the update. It is scheduled to get the update starting in December 2021. The ROG Phone 5 and 5s are slated for Q1 2022. The ROG Phone 3, ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition, Zenfone 7 and 7 Pro are set to have the update in the first half of 2022.
ASUS didn’t detail much when it came to features that will be coming with the Android 12 update. However, they did mention that “this update inherits the major functional changes introduced in the official version of Android 12, as well as continuing the popular ASUS battery- and performance-management features.”.
It’s not every day that we see an app blow up because of a social media trend. However, it looks like Zenly is experiencing a spike in popularity thanks to a growing trend on TikTok. The app has seen a 121% growth in active users since the trend gained popularity.
Zenly is an app that allows you to track other people. The app began to see a spike when the trend of showing screen recordings of your loved ones moving on the map in real-time started to gain popularity. The screen recording is accompanied by the song “Segala” by Mohd Mentor. According to Zenly, the trend helped highlight one of the app’s key features which is to allow users to “look out for loved ones and know what they are up to and ensure they are safe”. In fact, the team at Zenly confirmed that the app is frequently used by couples. Some other demographics using the app include best friends, siblings, roommates, and colleagues.
If you recognise the app’s interface, don’t be too surprised. Zenly is part of the Snap Inc family so you probably recognise the interface from the Snapchat app. The app is popular in countries like Japan, Russia, Indonesia and France.
Android tablets have long been a sore spot for the ecosystem. In fact, Android as an ecosystem has hardly made any progress to make the operating system more usable on tablets and larger displays. Currently, these devices use a supersized version of regular Android. Some manufacturers such as Samsung have added some software features to their tablets to further optimise the experience.
You may be wondering, “Didn’t Google introduce optimisations with Android Honeycomb?”. The short answer – yes they did. That said, since then, many of these changes have been rolled back. Years after the fact, it looks like Google is finally addressing the issue at a root OS level.
Mid-life Update for Android 12
Android 12L is an upcoming update that will introduce changes that will optimise the operating system for tablets and foldable devices. Android 12L will be rolled out as a mid-life update for Android 12. L, of course, stands for Large. That said, the update to Android 12L is also bringing an update when it comes to SDK. The current Android 12 SDK is known to developers as API Level 32. The new API level brings significant changes in how Android deals with and recognises large screens and foldables.
The new API level brings a focus on multitasking and maximising the additional forms and display space that comes with larger devices. The biggest change in the SDK is apps defaulting to multitasking mode for apps to help with compatibility and scalability. Google is also streamlining scalability. “WindowMetics” and “WindowSizeClasses” APIs will address developers’ woes in developing for the wide variety of different sizes present on Android devices. The new APIs will provide information and guides or “opinionated layout breakpoints” which will allow devs to better optimise and adapt.
Visually Improved and Geared for Productivity
With the introduction of better app adaptability with “WindowsSizeClasses”, it comes as no surprise that Android 12L will come with graphical changes that help with multitasking. The biggest change comes in the system menus and UI elements. These have been updated to support two columns graphically. We’ve seen this layout previously in devices like the iPad and also Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S7 series. The two columns allow more actionable content to be shown at a glance making it easier to get to options. The new layout defaults also make their way to the notification shade allowing users to see and access more on larger screens.
12L is also bringing along a new taskbar. The taskbar is akin to the one Android had in Honeycomb but brings a sharper focus on multitasking. The new taskbar will allow users to drag apps into split-screen and multiwindow mode seamlessly. Apps across the board will be able to do this regardless of optimisations. Devs will need to optimise for the best compatibility. However, if the app isn’t updated, it will be forced into compatibility mode. In addition to behaving more like Windows and macOS taskbar, the navigation on larger screens will be relegated to the corner of the taskbar for more ergonomic accessibility.
Better App Visibility on the Google Play Store
In addition to the visual changes and software optimisation, Google is also finally addressing the app situation on the Google Play Store. Using some of the optimisation and new APIs available in Android 12L, Google will be surfacing apps better optimised for tablets and larger screens more efficiently. The Google Play Store itself is getting a visual update to better utilise large screens. Users will be able to have better access to different pages and options at a glance.
Google will also be introducing new checks to assess large-screen apps. These checks will allow Google to better surface properly optimised apps. In addition, they are introducing large-screen specific app ratings. Larger screen devices will also be prompted when apps are ill-optimised.
Release & Development
With the announcement of Android 12L, it comes as no surprise that we are eager to see these optimisations make their way to larger devices soon. According to the announcement, there will be a developer preview with three betas before the final release in Q1 2022. The developer preview is currently available for the Lenovo Tab P2 and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold3.
Every now and then there will be an event so significant, it changes history. In the modern world, that moment happens way too often that it is no longer special. There are one or two rare innovations in today’s world though that makes you turn your heads. Today’s innovation is one of them.
The innovation comes in the form of a Sony Xperia smartphone. That might not sound too special. After all, the Sony Xperia smartphone, at some point, was responsible for Sony’s near exit from the smartphone business. While they pioneered and ushered in the era of water-resistant smartphones, they could not innovate fast enough or even make compelling enough products to compete with their rivals. The Sony Xperia has been reborn in 2018 though and is a completely different beast today. The Xperia PRO-I, this one is not in the same league as the Xperia flagship you know and love.
The Flagship
Source: Sony
We start with the boring stuff. It comes with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 platform, which is expected anyway. It also comes with 512GB in storage and up to 12GB in RAM. You can slot up to a 1TB MicroSD card into the Xperia PRO-I for good measure. You want to if you are planning to use its camera a lot. Of course, you get WiFi 6 capabilities from the Xperia PRO-I. To keep everything running nicely is a 4,500mAh battery that can charge up to 50% within just 30 minutes.
On the front is a staple 4K display for the Xperia flagship. 4K HDR OLED display refreshes at 120Hz and measures at 6.5-inch. Protecting the panel is a Gorilla Glass Victus. It is not the biggest display you can find in the market, but it is certainly one of the most gorgeous.
To be fair, none of that are new for a smartphone. What is new is what protrudes out the back of the device. The innovation is all in the camera.
The Best Camera on a Smartphone Ever
Source: Sony
This is not some boring innovation in the camera though. It is not some Megapixel addition, because Sony understands that with mobile photography, it is all about the sensor size more than anything else. That is why they fitted a Type-1.0 Exmor RS image sensor with phase detection autofocus mechanism within the compact body of the Xperia PRO-I. To process the photos out of the device, you get a dedicated Bionz X image processor that overrides the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888’s admittedly impressive image processing.
It is the same exact sensor you get from a Sony RX 100 VII. That also means you are getting 20.2-Megpixel of Sony’s Alpha goodness in the Xperia smartphone. The sensor under the 24mm Zeiss Tessar T* lens is capable of capturing images at RAW 12-bit colour depth as well for the best camera experience you can ever have on your smartphone. At the same time, it is Sony’s first smartphone to feature Eye AF that is so common in DSLR and mirrorless cameras these days.
The camera is even able to capture videos at 4K 120fps thanks to the very powerful imaging sensor. With up to 315 of autofocus points, you are going to keep track of your subjects for a long time in your videos and even your photos. For high-speed burst shots, you get to shoot at up to 20fps.
The Xperia PRO-I can do more than just allowing you to capture photos and videos from behind the camera though. It is also made as the perfect vlogging tool. You can pair it to an optional 3.5-inch LCD HD Vlog Monitor and the Xperia PRO-I turns into your vlogging companion without any additional heft in your bag. If you have an external microphone, the 3.5mm combo mic for you to plug in your mic to.
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Price and Availability
The Sony Xperia PRO-I will be available in Malaysia December 2021 onward. It will be available only through selected retailers and online stores though. There is no confirmed price just yet for the Sony Xperia PRO-I though but Sony says they will announce it on a later date.
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.
Samsung’s Bespoke brand was initially announced earlier this year for customised home appliances that blended in your decor. It looks like Samsung’s Bespoke branding is now making it to its mobile devices. The first to get it? The Galaxy Z Flip3! Yep – Samsung’s compact foldable just got a little bit more interesting with a level of personalization we’ve never seen in Samsung smartphones before.
Source: Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 Bespoke Edition
The Galaxy Z Flip3 is already one of the more interesting devices available in the market right now. In fact, it’s also one with the widest range of colours available at launch. However, Samsung is also looking to make it one of the most personable devices with a selection of 49 possible colour combinations with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 Bespoke Edition. It also lines up perfectly with the company’s initial push to make the Flip3 a smartphone for self-expression.
Using Samsung’s Bespoke Studio, you will be able to choose from a selection of five available colours for the panels of their Flip3: Blue, Yellow, Pink, White and Black. In addition, you will also be able to choose your frame colour from the available Silver and Black. You will be able to choose colours for your front and back colours independently allowing you to mix and match the colours as you like.
Source: Samsung
Customization and personalization don’t end there. Samsung is also introducing the Samsung Bespoke Upgrade Care. The new care plan allows Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 Bespoke Edition users to change their smartphone colours to match their style over the course of a year. That said, the plan does not allow you to change your frame colour – for obvious reasons. There is also an additional charge for changing colours.
Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Bespoke Edition
In addition to the Flip3, the Galaxy Watch4 is also getting a Bespoke edition. Similar to the Flip3, you will be able to customise your Galaxy Watch4 in more ways than ever before. Using Samsung’s Bespoke Studio, you will be able to choose from multiple watch bodies, watch faces and straps. You will also get access to some unique, limited edition straps that will be exclusively available on the Bespoke Studio.
Availability
The Bespoke Editions of the Galaxy Z Flip3 and Galaxy Watch4 will be available exclusively via Samsung.com. It will be available in Korea, the US, the UK, Germany, France, Canada and Australia starting October 20th.
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
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.