Category Archives: Mobile

vivo Unveils the V21 Series – For a More Discerning Selfie

April 28, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Have you ever thought; “hmmm, my selfie camera is not powerful enough; I cannot get a good self portrait and therefore my social media is incomplete”? What vivo launched in Malaysia last night might be your answer to great looking selfies with superb details. They launched the new V21 series smartphone.

The new vivo V21 series packs a very powerful camera system. Out the back is a powerful 64-Megapixel main camera that is flanked by an 8-Megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 2-Megapixel Macro shooter. The highlight though is the 44-Megapixel front-facing camera that you can find on above the display in small notch.

The 44-megapixel camera also comes with its own Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) combined with Electronic Image Stabilisation (EIS) technology to produce selfies like you’ve never seen on a smartphone before. There is also AI Night Portrait mode to ensure that your photos look detailed and noiseless even in low-light conditions combined with f/2.0 aperture for even more light to be captured. If there is still not enough light around you, there are the Dual Selfie Spotlight to light your face combined with the screen’s soft light feature.

The high-resolution cameras also means that both the front and the back cameras of the vivo V21 can shoot videos at 4K resolution. That also means you can rely on the front camera to even do your own vlogs with the vivo V21. Either that or shoot great looking TikTok videos or Instagram Reels.

You need some power to get smooth 4K video recording experience though. Some power is also needed to keep both the front and back cameras happy and shooting quickly. That power is found in the form of a powerhouse that is the MediaTek Dimensity 800U (Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G for V21e) System on a Chip (SoC). The powerful processor is supported by an 8GB RAM for all kinds of multitasking needs and 128GB of storage to ensure all your photos has somewhere to go.

Viewing your photos before you post them are very important too. That is why vivo has fitted the V21 with a 6.44-inch AMOLED display. The display boasts Full HD in resolution with 90Hz refresh rate to give you that really smooth feel while scrolling through the interface. 90Hz is great for gaming too, of course.

To keep the device running all day is a 4,000mAh battery kept within the slim and svelte 7.29mm (7.39mm for V21e) glass and aluminium body. It even charges at 33W too, in case you need a quick charge before you leave home or the office. The 33W FlashCharge technology is of course delivered via the USB Type-C port of the device.

Source: vivo
Source: vivo
Source: vivo
Source: vivo
Source: vivo
Source: vivo
Source: vivo
Source: vivo
Source: vivo
Source: vivo
Source: vivo

The vivo V21 series is now available for pre-order (until 4^th may 2021) via vivo’s own E-Store, authorized dealers, vivo concept stores, and vivo flagship stores on Shopee and Lazada. The new selfie focused smartphone will be available in Dusk Blue and Sunset Dazzle (Roman Black and Diamond Flare for V21e). The vivo V21 will set you back MYR 1,399 and the V21e will set you back MYR 1,299. If you do pre-order a unit of the vivo V21 or the V21e, you are eligible for a 1-year extended warranty, 1-year screen crack protection, an MYR 50 instant rebate, and an exclusive gift that amounts to MYR 699 and MYR 599 in total value respectively. For more information on the vivo V21 series, you can head over to vivo’s website.

iOS, Mobile, News

iOS 14.5 is Out Now! What’s New?

April 27, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

The latest iOS is out now and it is the biggest iOS update since iOS 14 launched. If you do not know yet, iOS is the thing that allows you to work with your iPhone. The iOS 14.5, as they call it, comes with a whole slew of improvements that could improve your quality of life with your Apple devices.

Unlock You iPhone, Now You Do Not Need Your Face

Unlocking your devices with your face is great. You only need to look at your device when you turn it on, and you are ready to go within 2 seconds of your display turning on. For the Apple iPhone X and newer, Face ID is a blessing because none of those devices come with a fingerprint sensor. Face ID, in the world of modern Apple iPhones, is the only way for you to unlock your Apple iPhone. Obviously that is a problem when you are wearing a mask in this time of pandemic.

Not anymore though. With iOS 14.5 paired to an Apple Watch with WatchOS 7.4, your iPhone can now be unlocked without you even looking into your iPhone. That also means you do not need to take off your mask in the public to unlock your device. Then again, you could just enter your passcode to unlock your iPhone. Using the Apple Watch to unlock is much faster and more elegant way to do it though. You can even require your Apple Watch to be on your wrist for your iPhone to instantly unlock, if you like.

Siri’s New Voices

Siri has a signature voice. That default voice is recognized and loved by many, especially Apple iPhone users. But what if you are one of those that gets annoyed whenever Siri talks to you in its default voice. iOS 14.5 introduces new voices for Siri.

Users now can choose between up to four voices when they first set up their iOS 14.5 device in English. That way, you can choose the Siri that annoys you the least, or the one you like best. That way also your Siri is more “you”.

Siri also now supports Group FaceTime. That means you can ask Siri to initiate FaceTime with a few people at one go, or initiate a FaceTime call with a certain group you have in Messages. When you are using your AirPods or compatible Beats headphones Siri will announce incoming messages to you via your headphones. Siri also supports calling emergency contacts now in conditions where you cannot make calls or in emergency situations.

More Private

There are also more controls over your privacy with iOS 14.5. App Tracking Transparency requires apps to obtain user’s permissions over different tracking requirements for the apps before any tracking is done. It also asks for user’s permission before sharing data across to data brokers or advertisers. You can change the tracking behavior of each app too in Settings.

More Emoji

Source: Apple
Source: Apple

What is an iPhone without its funky emoji? Apple’s commitment to diversification and inclusiveness adds new emoji to iOS 14.5. iOS 14.5 now introduces new couple kissing emoji and couple with heart emoji with different skin tones. There are several new emoji as well including a woman with beard emoji.

Improve Apple Maps with Your Friends and Other Users

Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple

Apple Maps can be made better with user inputs now too. Users can now report incidents on the road quickly and safely. Users can just tell Siri that there is an accident up ahead or even reporting a pothole coming up. Apple Maps could even show if the incident has been cleared up. Of course, if you are a passenger, you can quickly report an incident by hitting the “Report an Issue” button in the app. You can also share your ETA when walking or cycling to let others know their arrival time. Users with Apple CarPlay can also access that function via Siri. Unfortunately, the “Report an Issue” function is now only available for Apple Maps users in US and China only.

And Plenty More

Source: Apple
Source: Apple

Apple Podcast on iOS 14.5 gets a redesign. The redesign allows for more intuitive navigation and even quicker access to your favourite podcasts on the app. You can now save and download episodes just in case you want to listen to your favourite podcasts when you travel. The downloaded podcast will be available in your Library for quicker access.

AirTag is also now supported on iOS 14.5. AirTags was just launched a week ago and it is one of the most convenient ways to keep track of your things, or your child if you want to. AirTags will help you find things like your keys, so it saves you a lot of time when you misplace it, or when it drops somewhere.

Apple News also gets a redesign. The News+ tab is redesigned for users to find, download, and manage magazine or newspaper issues. They have also redesigned Search for more relevant search experiences.

On iOS 14.5, users can also stream audio and video to AirPlay 2 enabled hardware with Apple Fitness+. You can now cast your fitness routine and guides to supported TVs instead of viewing them from the small display that is your iPhone. You can get loud and clear instructions via a wireless speaker rather than struggling with the speakers from the iPhone.

iOS 14.5 also include Dual SIM support for 5G connectivity. The new interface also improves data consumption to allow for a better and more efficient use of your monthly data quota. That is not all though, Smart Data Mode improves battery life and is supposed to allow for more stable data experience.

Android, iOS, Mobile, News, Social Media

Spotify Miniplayer Brings Audio Discovery to Facebook together with Price Hikes

April 27, 2021 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Looks like Spotify and Facebook are playing extra nice with the launch of a new feature which brings even more integration of the music platform to the Facebook app. Come across a song that’s caught your ear on Facebook? The new miniplayer feature will allow you to simply press play to get the beat going as you continue to browse your timeline. The new miniplayer feature will allow you to play music from videos with licensed music as well as other content on your Newsfeed.

The new Spotify feature on Facebook will require users to connect the apps. Upon connecting the apps, users will be able to play songs they come across on their Facebook Newsfeed as they browse. As always, the feature will be available to Spotify Premium users with full access in the miniplayer. Free users, however, will be able to access the feature with shuffle mode and ads from Spotify.

The new feature is available in select countries including Malaysia, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, Uruguay, and the U.S. The feature will continue to make its way to other markets soon.

New Features, Higher Prices

In addition to the new feature, it seems like Spotify is also revising its pricing. The music streaming platform seems to be rolling out pricing changes to a number of regions including the U.K. and Europe which have seen the price revisions officially announced through email notifications. The revised prices go into effect starting April 30, 2021. Existing users will have a month’s grace period to decide whether they will be continuing with the service.

Spotify users in Europe will be paying €5.99 (MYR29.62) for the student plan and €12.99 (MYR64.23) for the Duo plan; a €1 (MYR4.94) increase from the initial price. The family plan sees a €3 (MYR14.83) increase to €17.99 (MYR88.95). In the U.K., the price revisions are £5.99 (MYR34.07) for Student, £13.99 (MYR79.56) for Duo and £16.99 (MYR96.63) for family – an increase of £1 (MYR5.69) for the student and duo plans and a £2 (MYR11.38) increase for the family plan.

The price increase is expected to affect countries in Asia and South America as well. No indication of when though.

Android, Mobile, News

Google Assistant will be Getting Smarter thanks to Guacamole

April 26, 2021 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

You’d be wondering if anyone is still using Google Assistant – the short answer would be, yes. However, development on new features for the Assistant hasn’t been as fast as it once was – at least not as revolutionary. That seems to be changing with the a tasty update codenamed “Guacamole”.

The new update reportedly appears on the the beta version of the Google app which runs atop Android 11. Version 12.5 of the beta has a menu called Guacamole in the settings of the Google app which comes with a short description of, “Quickly get things done with Guacamole.” Needless to say, we’re pretty sure they don’t mean the delicious Mexican spread.

Upon opening the menu, users are greeted with another screen saying, “Skip saying “Hey Google” for help with quick tasks”. In 9to5 Google’s deep dive into the APK, they discovered that the feature will allow users to define commands where they can skip saying the activating “Hey Google” for Google Assistant. In their exploration of the APK, they found that ringing alarms can be cancelled by simply saying “Stop” or “Snooze” whil.e “Answer the call” or “Decline the call” will work for calls.

round grey speaker on brown board — Photo by John Tekeridis on Pexels.com

The feature isn’t really a revolutionary new feature. Nest Hub users have been using a similar feature since 2019. However, it looks like Google is looking to bring the feature to mobile devices which makes so much sense – I mean how many of us actually use our phones as alarm clocks!

There’s no real indication of when the feature will make it to the public Google app but it looks like the search giant is testing the feature with their employees. The screencaps, acquired by 9to5 Google appears to link to an internal page accessible by Google employees only.

Accessories, Android, Consumer Electronics, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Samsung’s Galaxy Upcycling Programme Turns Your Old Smartphones into an IoT device!

April 22, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

There is a problem with the smartphone and smart device industry today. That problem is accentuated by the accelerated growth of the industry as well. It is not just a localised problem, mind you.

That problem is electronic waste. Technically, electronic waste has started becoming a problem since electronics have become a part of our lives. Today, electronics are an excessively big part of our lives. Wherever you go, you carry your smartphones with you. Every where you go too, you are exposed to at least one electronic display that is not your smartphone. When these devices go out of phase and gets replaced, it becomes electronic waste. We are sure you could be spared from the lecture though.

In that case, plenty of the current electronics manufacturers look for ways to reduce their own electronic waste, or waste in general in some cases. Apple claimed that they are reducing their own electronic wastes by not including charging adapters when you buy your Apple iPhone 12 series devices. Samsung followed suit with their Samsung Galaxy S20 devices. Superficial or not, you have to admit that your old chargers are still effective in charging your modern devices, albeit at a slightly lower speed (that also protects your battery a little bit).

Samsung also took liberties in redesigning their packaging so that users can opt to repurpose their unused packaging for some other purposes, like a pencil holder or something. This is all part of their Galaxy Upcycling Programme, very clever stuff. But your old smartphones are still collecting dust in your drawer.

With SmartThings Labs though, your old Samsung Galaxy devices can stop collecting dust in your drawer and be a smart home accessory. Of course, this is not a new thing that we have heard about. Samsung has been talking about upcycling their older Galaxy devices into an IoT device for a couple of years now, correct us if we are wrong.

Via SmartThings Labs within the SmartThings app on a Galaxy device, your old device can now become an enhanced sound and light sensor. The implementation uses Galaxy’s improved Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accurately distinguish sounds in its surroundings. It can even record certain sounds too, if you want it to. You can get it to record knocks, dogs barking, baby crying, and even cat meowing. If any of those sounds are recorded, it will send notification to your current smartphone of choice and you can listen to the recording yourself. Nothing too new here, except you do not need the camera function.

Other than sounds, Samsung Galaxy device can be turned into a light sensor. Thanks to the existing light sensor on your smartphones, the Galaxy devices can measure the brightness level of a room quite accurately. That could also be an indication to automatically turn on the lights in a room or even adjust the brightness level of your TV through SmartThings.

What makes it cleverer is that Samsung’s SmartThings implementation to make your device a smart sensor for sounds and lights technically reduces its battery consumption as well. Your smartphones already uses its mic and light sensors constantly anyway, which also means that they devices already consume minimal battery life on their own. With the implementation though, Samsung also introduces their very own battery optimisation solution to minimise battery consumption. We suspect that the implementation turns off other sensors in favour of the sensors the device has exclusive access to for the purpose of measuring light and sounds. So, is this another glorified light sensor? Sort of, but it is a start.

Consumer Electronics, iOS, Lifestyle, News

The 2021 Generation Apple TV 4K – Even Better and Even Cleverer, Cleverer Than Your Smart TV

April 21, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Apple’s Spring Loaded event for 2021 revealed the highly anticipated iMac and iPad Pro that both packs Apple’s M1 chip that you can also find on the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. They also revealed a new Apple TV 4K though. While the entirety of the Apple TV box does not look different from the outside, there are improvements made on the Apple TV 4K.

For one, it now comes with Apple’s A12 Bionic chip. To be fair, that is not the latest Apple integrated chip in their line-up. The A12 chip though is still one tough and powerful chip to work with in the Apple TV 4K box. It powers the updated tvOS that seamlessly integrates with all sorts of Apple devices. You can even watch Apple TV with your AirPods if you really want to with the Apple TV 4K.

There is also a new remote that comes with the 2021 Apple TV 4k. The new remote is designed to somewhat resemble an iPhone, we feel. Aside from that though the remote is made to be as intuitive as ever and with a dedicated Siri button on the side to make reaching Siri voice command more seamless and hassle free than ever.

Of course, the 2021 Apple TV 4K will still come with all the things that made the Apple TV 4K one of the favourite TV boxes around. The tvOS offers the latest shows from Apple TV+ (with subscription, of course), offers best in class music experience via Apple Music, features Apple Fitness+ to pair with your Apple Watch, Apple Arcade for over-the-top games, AirPlay to seamlessly share videos, music, projects, and other content from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac devices directly to your TV. The Apple TV 4K box is also your home control hub for all your HomeKit accessories, including your HomePod speakers.

Beyond that though, Apple TV 4K now support HDR and Dolby Vision contents at 60fps instead of the regular 30fps. While it is not quite 120hz ready, 60fps is quite a lot more than enough for most video contents today. 60fps would really change the way you view sports too.

The cleverest feature of the Apple TV 4K in 2021 though is the clever colour calibration process that works with the Apple iPhone. The 2021 Apple TV 4K works in tandem with the iPhone light sensor to compare the colour balance between your TV to the industry standard. Once the data is received by the Apple TV 4K box, it automatically adjusts its output to deliver more accurate colours and better colour contrasts without users ever touching the TV’s settings.

Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple

The Apple TV 4K is now available in select regions at US$ 179 (MYR 849*) onward. There are no colour options available for Apple TV 4K at this point, you get a black TV box and silver remote. You can opt for a larger storage for the Apple TV 4K at 64GB for US$ 199 (MYR 949*). The Apple TV Siri remote is also available separately at US$ 59 (MYR 299*) and is compatible with previous generation Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD. The Apple TV HD with the Siri remote will be available at US$ 149 (MYR 719*). There is no confirmation on local (Malaysia) availability yet at this point. More information on the Apple TV 4K and the new Siri remote can be found on Apple’s website.

*Official Malaysia pricing as per Apple Malaysia

iOS, Mobile, News

The Apple iPad Pro with Apple M1 chip – The Most Powerful Ever

April 21, 2021 Darwin Sucipto 1 Comment

When Apple introduced the wonder that is the Apple M1 chip to the world, we had a question. We wondered what would Apple’s iPadOS would look like and feels like with the Apple M1 chip behind it. We could only hope for Apple to inevitably launch their new iPad Pro line-up with the Apple M1 processor; it only makes sense.

We wonder no more when Apple got through its Spring Loaded event this morning (Malaysia time). They announced the highly anticipated updated Apple iPad Pro with the Apple M1 processing chip. Traditionally, the Apple iPad Pro has always come with Apple’s mobile platform. The 2020 variant, for example packs Apples A12Z bionic System on a Chip (SoC). In which case, we always thought of the iPad Pro to be a larger version of the iPad made for light workloads in workplaces.

The Apple M1 chip changes everything we know and thought of the Apple iPad Pro though. The Apple iPad Pro, with the power of a powerful Apple M1 chip that is also found in the Mac, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and even the new iMac should be a completely new beast altogether. It also makes the most powerful iPad Pro ever leaps and bounds better than the older iPad Pro it replaces. The 2021 iPad Pro now makes more sense than ever.

Do not get us wrong, the iPad Pro still looks like the regular blown-up Apple iPad. You choose between an 11-inch display and a 12.9-inch display. Put the new iPad Pro against the new iPad and the iPad Pro still dwarfs the iPad.

Thanks to Apple’s M1 chip though, the iPad Pro can be more computer than tablet in a lot of areas. For one, you get up to 2TB in high-speed storage instead of a measly 1TB (up to). It is also now a USB Type-C device with Thunderbolt support, finally. That also means you can work off multiple displays with the iPad Pro if you have a Thunderbolt ready display or expansion dock. But most of all, along with 16GB of RAM, the iPad Pro now delivers desktop level performance in a package no larger than a small stack of A4 paper.

The M1 chip has proven itself to be a highly capable chip in the Mac platform and it should prove to be a little bit of an overkill for the likes of iPad OS. But that does not mean that you cannot harness the benefit of the M1 chip on a tablet form factor. The added power also means that you can now process videos quicker and at higher resolutions on top of the iPad Pro itself. The M1 chip also allows the iPad Pro to go through photos and edit them quickly. Very important when you are constantly on-the-go.

On top of all of that, the Apple iPad Pro with 12.9-inch display features a new Liquid Retina XDR display that features a new age mini-LED design with over 10,000 LEDs backlighting the display to allow brightness at up to 1,600 in peak brightness and 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. That also means you can rely on this single display when you really need to get your work going on the go. Its True Tone and P3 colour gamut coverage also means that you can even use this display to colour correct all your video footages or even photos. The combination of those two technologies with ProMotion also means you can really enjoy HDR and Dolby Vision contents on the large display.

The Apple iPad Pro also comes packing a 12-Megapixel mean rear camera and a 10-Megapixel ultra-wide camera supported by a LiDAR scanner. While that is nothing really new on an iPad Pro, they are still great cameras for quick video productions even. But the iPad Pro also now supports Centre Stage via its 12-Megapixel front-facing ultra-wide angle camera that automatically keeps you centered in the frame and automatically shifts and zooms as other people joins the call or when you move around. Of course, the 12-Megapixel sensor allows you to have a Full HD video call experience via FaceTime along with Face ID features.

Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple

The Apple iPad Pro will be available for orders 30^th April 2021 onward and ship May 2021 onward in selected markets. You can choose between two colour variants and two screen sizes, Space Grey or Silver, and 11-inch (Liquid Retina) or 12.9-inch (Liquid Retina XDR). Storage options start from 128GB all the way to 2TB. The WiFi only variant of the iPad Pro (11-inch) starts at US$ 749(MYR 3,499*) while the cellular (5G capable) variant starts at US$ 999 (MYR4,149*). The 12.9-inch starts at US$ 1,099 (MYR 4,799*) for the WiFi only variant and the cellular (5G capable) variant starts at US$ 1,299 (MYR 5,499*).

*Official Malaysia pricing as per Apple Malaysia

Camera, Computers, Mobile, News

More is Better – Canon Launches Printers with 6 Ink Tanks

April 20, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

If you go out to buy a modern printer off the shelf today, you would not be surprised to find printers that comes with four tanks to be filled with four different colours of ink. You get the usual Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black combination (CMYK). That has been the way printers been since the early days of colour printing. Before the age of refillable tanks in modern printers, it was the age of printer ink cartridges that comes in two variants, the Black, and the Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow variant for both black and white and colour printing. You see at most two cartridges for that.

Canon has been one of the leaders in consumer printing solutions. They also have been championing refillable ink tanks solutions in modern consumer printer solutions. Refillable tanks are much cheaper to run compared to specifically built ink cartridges and can be more reliable. Our own office printer runs on refillable tanks too, in fact. We also think that the 4-tank solution is one of the best things that has come to modern consumer printers.

But what if you can have more tanks in your printer. What if your printer has six tanks? It seems like you can try to figure that out on your own with Canon’s PIXMA G570 and PIXMA G670 printers.

There is an additional Grey ink and Red ink tanks for both the new Canon PIXMA printers. One of the added benefits to that the printer is now able to produce more prints than before, especially coloured prints thanks to the added overall storage volume of the tanks. Of course, you would have to spend a little bit more than before when you refill, because two extra tanks. You get up to 3,800 sheets of 4 x 6 photo prints from one set of included ink.

The other benefit to printing with two extra colours on the printer is better colour reproduction never seen before in this type of printers. If you compare the modern 4-tank ink printers to the likes of laser printers, or even cartridge-based printers, the colour prints from 4-tank ink printers tend to be a little washed out and less vivid, especially where you see red. The additional Red and Grey ink sets are supposed to add some extra colour details where it was not possible before with the CMYK arrangement. The effects will be more apparent if you use photo paper obviously.

Of course, the Canon PIXMA G570 and PIXMA G670 retains all the smart features of a modern printer. You can use the Canon PRINT Inkjet or SELPHY smartphone app to print directly from your smartphones as usual. You can also connect PIXMA G570 and G670 to your office network and cloud storages for remote printing and even scanning purposes via PIXMA Cloud Link.

If you download the Canon Easy-PhotoPrint Editor app on iOS, Android, Windows and even Mac OS, you can edit your photos and add all sorts of filters first before you send it to the printer for a quick print. You can use the app as well to create calendars, postcards, business cards, and more. The Canon PosterArtist Lite app on Windows can also help you quickly create posters from over 1,300 templates, photos, and clipart.

The Canon PIXMA G570 and G670 will be available today onward from all Canon’s authorised retailers, official stores, and partnering online stores today onward. The Canon PIXMA G570 will set you back MYR 1,229 while the PIXMA G670 will retail at MYR 1,529. For more information on the new Canon PIXMA printers with six ink tanks, you can visit Canon’s website.

Android, Mobile, News

Sony Xperia 1 III and Xperia 5 III Are the World’s First Smartphones with Variable Telephoto Lens

April 15, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Sony’s Xperia launch just happened last night. Of course, it was a pre-recorded video played on their own website. It was not a live session or anything like that because of the current situation of the pandemic. Yes, we have to still remind ourselves that we are still in the midst of the pandemic, stay safe.

Still, manufacturers are becoming active again and that is something we love to see. Sony is also a brand that is close to our hearts. We are big fans of their products and I do not think we are able to hide our affection toward the brand very well.

So, the Xperia 1 III, Xperia 5 III, and Xperia 10 III made the stage last night. The big highlights of the show though were the Sony Xperia 1 III and Xperia 5 III. Sony claims that these are the world’s first smartphones to pack Variable telephoto lens paired with a dual PD autofocus sensor. We will go into detail what that is later.

As per their Sony Alpha (α) moniker, the cameras on the Sony Xperia 1 III and Xperia 5 III will also pack Real-time Eye Autofocus for both humans and animals. You also get 20fps burst photo mode with low light noise reduction technology thanks to a BIONZ X processor built into the device. On top of that, there is a brand-new AI super resolution zoom technology for a better and cleared photos when you zoom into a subject.

Sony Xperia 1 III

Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony

The Sony Xperia 1 III is made to be flagship among flagships. It packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 System on a Chip (SoC), the most powerful you technically can get in the industry today. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC is supported by 12GB of RAM to keep Android 11 trundling along nicely with up to 512GB in storage. Of course, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 is also a 5G capable SoC making this Xperia a 5G device.

You want all of that power from the SoC too though because the Xperia 1 III packs a 4K HDR OLED display at its 6.5-inch with CinemaWide screen ratio. That display also boasts 120Hz in refresh rate. This also makes the Xperia 1 III the first smartphone to feature a 120Hz 4K OLED display in the world. We think it will be the only one too. This should be something else when you game. It is also protected with Corning’s latest Gorilla Glass Victus up front.

The Gorilla Glass 6 protected rear features three cameras with the help of a 3D ToF sensor. The main sensor is not some crazy 108-Megapixel shooter with crazier resolution clearing technology. You get a Plain Jane 12-Megapixel sensor with a regular f/1.7 in aperture. That 12-Megapixel sensor is flanked by another 12-Megapixel telephoto lens with Variable zoom lengths. You can zoom it to 70mm or 105mm, that is 3x to 4x zoom. There is also another 12-Megapixel camera that shoots at an ultra-wide angle with 124^o of view.

Of course, the 12-Megapixel camera is capable of shooting videos at 4K resolution with HDR. With Cinematography Pro with Sony’s CineAlta technology, the Sony Xperia can shoot videos at 120fps slow-motion for up to 5x slow-motion videos. There is also a new User Interface (UI) that comes with the Xperia 1 III movie mode to make things even more intuitive for a quicker and more convenient workflow.

They have improved the audio as well on the Sony Xperia 1 III. The speakers are 40% louder than before. The smartphone also now supports 360 Reality Audio through the speakers natively too. The Xperia 1 also boasts DSEE Ultimate technology that enhances your music even more. Oh yes, it still has a 3.5mm audio jack.

All the hardware inside the Xperia 1 III flagship will require a lot of power to run for a whole day. That is why Sony packs 4,500mAh battery. The 4,500mAh battery charges to 50% in just 30 minutes with the included charger. You can also wirelessly charge it or wireless charge other devices with the Xperia 1 III.

Sony Xperia 5 III

Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony

The Sony Xperia 5 III packs mostly the same internals as the Xperia 1 III. It even packs the same camera array. The only difference on the outside of the device is probably the sizes.

The Sony Xperia 5 III comes with a 6.1-inch display. It does not produce 4K of resolution though. It only displays at Full HD+. It is also still a 120Hz display still for a silky-smooth experience.

Internally you get up to 8GB of RAM space and 256GB of storage. If that is not enough for you, there is a MicroSD slot that supports up to 1TB MicroSDXC cards. At least you still have the 4,500mAh battery that you get from Sony Xperia 1 III as well.

Price and Availability

The Sony Xperia 1 III will be in Malaysia with Android 11 at the end of July 2021 onward. It You can choose between Frosted Black and Frosted Purple colour options. The Sony Xperia 5 III will be available in Green colour option only. It will only be available in Malaysia September 2021 onward. There are no indications on the pricing of the devices at this point too. Sony says they will be announcing the price on a later date. For more information on the Sony Xperia 1 III and Sony Xperia 5 III, you can visit their website.

Android, Editorial, Mobile

How Co-Engineering Partnerships with LEICA, Hasselblad and ZEISS are Upping the Ante in Smartphone Photography

April 14, 2021 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Mobile photography seems to be gaining steam with industry leading companies like ZEISS partnering with mobile manufacturers like vivo to push the boundaries of photography – particularly when it comes to mobile. Over the past few years, it seems like more and more people are turning to their smartphones as their go to phones and with companies like Sony pushing the boundaries with camera sensors, more attention has been paid to complementing them with better software and hardware.

The partnerships between brands like vivo and ZEISS can take many forms. In fact, we’ve seen the different ways these can play out in just the past two months. Of course, one of the partnerships we’ve seen is in the recent announcement of Hasselblad’s collaboration to improve mobile photography. In their collaboration, Hasselblad’s know-how is applied in the algorithm that is used to process the information from the sensor into the final photo. We also see partnerships where the imaging companies provide only the hardware, in the form of lenses or augmented sensors, for mobile brands to use similar to the partnership LEICA is involved in.

However, in the case of vivo and ZEISS, the companies are looking break new ground. They have first laid the groundwork for a partnership and collaboration that doesn’t just come in smartphone technology. They have setup the “vivo ZEISS Imaging Lab” which is focusing on developing and improving optical performance when it comes to mobile imaging. Of course, these developments will naturally trickle down to vivo’s premium flagship smartphones where, in recent years, vivo has been working to push the boundaries of creative expression.

The vivo X60 Series – A True Camera First Premium Flagship

vivo’s X60 series is the first smartphone to be on the receiving end of the partnership between vivo and ZEISS. Over the past few years, vivo has used the X series of smartphones to zoom in on creators and imaging enthusiasts. They have infused the smartphones with revolutionary technologies that up the ante in a way we’ve not seen in the industry just yet.

vivo’s quarter of a decade of experience in creating mobile devices is further honed by their X50 series. The first debut of their gimbal technology brought a fresh breath of air into a still space when it came to technological innovations. That’s further enhanced in their collaboration with ZEISS. The collaboration is a pervasive marriage of both companies’ prowess ranging from the software to hardware of the cameras featured on the X60 series of smartphones.

ZEISS Biotar Portrait Style

The new vivo X60 series comes with a whole slew of features that put the collaboration front and centre but, perhaps, the most visible inclusion of ZEISS in the ability of the X60 series to reproduce pictures taken with ZEISS’s signature Biotar lenses. The pictures taken in this mode on the X60 series come with the central resolution and rotational bokeh that are the hallmark of ZEISS’s Biotar lenses. This is achieved with the progressive bokeh simulation and distributed blurred spot rotation of the algorithm on vivo’s X60 series smartphones.

Of course, the ZEISS Biotar Portrait style isn’t the only filter or style available on the X60 series. In fact, it actually joins a formidable arsenal that includes multiple night filters such as Black and Golden which highlights the shadows and turns the photo a golden sepia for a deep, emotional flare.

Gimbal Stabilization 2.0

The hallmark of vivo’s X series since its introduction last year is Gimbal Stabilization. This year, the vivo X60 series brings along Gimbal stabilization 2.0. The new updates to the feature include a new, customised Sony IMX598 with a larger aperture for better low light performance and sharper images. The feature also comes with vivo’s own VIS 5-axis video stabilization which allows the sensor to compensate for sudden jerks and movements that can occur when shooting videos, particularly action shots. The sum of these features is a cinema grade, stabilised video which is ready to upload and show off to the world.

Powered by A Flagship Grade processor

The vivo X60 series doesn’t just bring features some might consider gimmicks. It comes packing the Snapdragon 870 SoC which packs quite the punch when it comes to performance. The performance oriented SoC comes with 8-cores which allows it to take on more demanding tasks with more gusto. In fact, the built-in AI features power some of the vivo X60 series’ hallmark features and is responsible for the optimisations that result in better battery life. The SoC also enables the many algorithms that help create the filters and features that complement the camera hardware on the vivo X60. This includes the ZEISS powered filters.

All in all, the ground-up approach vivo is using in its partnership with ZEISS has only just begun. ZEISS has the prowess and know-how to help vivo level up its camera game in the long run and it’s very clear that the vivo X60 series is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the fruits of this partnership.

DISCLAIMER:
This is a paid advertorial and does not represent the views and opinions of the techENT editorial board.