Sony isn’t just releasing a flagship smartphone this round, it’s also bringing a new entry into its midrange lineup. The new Xperia 10 VI is built for creators on a more affordable scale coming with a two-day battery life and the Video Creator app which Sony debuted with the Xperia 5 V.
The Xperia 10 VI is built to be a compact, durable smartphone coming in at only 164g. The lightweight smartphone measures only 155mm x 68mm and comes complete with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection. That said, the smartphone is packed to the brim with power – most literally – with its 5000mAh battery.
Under the hood, the Xperia 10 VI comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 mobile compute platform that is built for affordable performance. This is complemented by 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Like its bigger sibling, the Xperia 1 VI, it also supports up to 1.5TB of extra memory through a microSD card slot. It comes with a 6.1-inch OLED display that Sony is calling Triluminous Display for mobile. This display supports a 60HZ refresh rate and covers 100% of the DCI-P3 gamut.
On the camera front, the Xperia 10 VI comes with a dual sensor set-up. The main sensor is a 48-megapixel Exmor RS for mobile sensor. This is complemented by an 8-megapixel sensor. The sensors support shooting at 26 mm and 52mm focal length equivalents and 16mm focal length equivalents respectively. The camera setup also supports 2x optical zoom. It also comes with optical image stabilization for both still image and video shooting with Optical SteadyShot technology. Up front is an 8-megapixel sensor.
Complementing the camera setup is Sony’s Video Creator app. Using this app, users will be able to seamlessly generate captivating videos from their still and video shots in less than a minute. Sony is promising three major OS updates and 4 years of security updates for the Xperia 10 VI.
Pricing & Availability
The Sony Xperia 10 VI will be available starting in August 2024 in Malaysia. For the rest of the world, Sony indicates that availability will start in the coming weeks. You can register your interest in the Xperia 10 VI on the Sony website now.
The smartphone will be available in three colours: Blue, Black and White. In Malaysia, it looks like we’ll be getting the Black and Blue versions only. No official pricing has been announced yet.
Sony’s Xperia series of smartphones – particularly the Xperia 1 – has been geared towards creative professionals as a tool and complement to their kits. However, this year is a little bit different with the Xperia 1 VI as Sony isn’t just introducing new creative features including AI, it’s also announcing an exclusive partnership with Activision.
Uniting Technology & Creativity with a More Capable Camera for Better Expressions
Keeping true to Sony’s key tenant of staying true to creativity, the new Xperia 1 VI comes with a brand new camera system. This time, the new system brings Sony’s Exmor T for Mobile image sensor that promises excellent low-light performance. However, that’s not all when it comes to upgrades. The Xperia 1 VI also comes with a brand new triple sensor setup for its main camera. The setup still comes with ZEISS T* coating but features a brand-new variable zoom covering 85-170mm focal length equivalents. The new setup also comes with a wide sensor which is able to shoot in 24mm and 48mm focal length equivalents and an ultrawide sensor that shoots at 16mm focal length equivalent. According to Sony, this new setup is the first to cover such a wide range of focal lengths from Xperia. The camera setup enables up to 7.1x optical zoom and also supports telephoto macro photos and videos.
Masaaki Oshima, Head of Mobile Business Unit and Imaging Entertainment Business Unit at Sony holding the Xperia 1VI during the YouTube Livestream announcement.
The Xperia 1 VI is also bringing AI features for creators. Continuing the company’s approach of unifying its flagship Alpha camera know-how and technology in its Xperia lineup, the Xperia 1 VI is adopting some AI features that we’ve seen in the Alpha family. As such, it comes as no surprise that the Mark VI will feature the return of AI-enabled eye-tracking autofocus. However, Sony is raising the bar by using AI to dynamically recognise and track the human skeleton and posture for more accurate autofocus. This will also ensure that your subject doesn’t go out of focus even in busy environments.
Breaking Its Own Mould with BRAVIA Technology & A Gaming Partnership with Activision
This year, it’s not just Alpha technology being folded into the Xperia 1 VI, Sony’s BRAVIA technology is also tagging along. Boasting the brightest display ever on an Xperia device, the new Xperia 1’s OLED display comes in a new 19.5:1 aspect ratio. Yes, Sony is doing away with the cinematic 20:1 aspect ratio we’ve seen previously. The display is also getting a boost in brightness with “Sunlight Vision”, a new feature that Sony is introducing to ensure that the display remains legible even under direct sunlight. Other than that, the display covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour space and has a 120Hz refresh rate and a 240Hz response rate.
The inclusion of BRAVIA technology is also bringing with it a new gaming partnership with Activision-Blizzard for Call of Duty Warzone Mobile. The new partnership leverages the high performance of the processor and the new gaming-centric features that are coming with the Xperia 1 VI. In addition to richer sound and graphics thanks to BRAVIA technology, the smartphone is also coming with a brand new feature called FPS booster that optimizes the performance of the smartphone for higher frame rates and better gaming fluidity. In addition, the Xperia 1 VI also comes with optimizations for touch that can recognise up to 24 touch patterns and optimize responsiveness for them. Activision’s Call of Duty Warzone Mobile will launch in March 2024.
Top of the line Specs for Creativity
The Xperia 1 VI comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 under the hood. The top-of-the-line SoC from Qualcomm right now. This is paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal memory with support for up to 1.5TB additional space through the microSD card slot. The smartphone comes with support for Bluetooth 5.4 and USB 3.2.
The display on the Xperia 1 VI is a 6.5-inch OLED display with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080×2340 pixels. Camera-wise, the triple sensor at the back has a 52-megapixel main sensor and is complemented by a 12-megapixel telephoto and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor. Upfront is a 12-megapixel sensor for selfies. All of this is powered by a 5,000mAh battery. The Xperia 1 VI will launch with Android 14 and will come with a guarantee for 4 years of security updates and three major OS updates.
Pricing & Availability
The Sony Xperia 1 VI will be available in the coming months. In Malaysia, it will be available starting July 2024. You can start registering your interest in the device over at Sony’s website now.
It will be available in Platinum Silver, Black and Khaki Green worldwide. According to the Sony Malaysia website, Malaysia will only be getting Black and Khaki Green. No official pricing has been announced just yet.
Apple’s highest-end iPad has gotten a full refresh with a slimmer design, more powerful insides, cutting-edge display technology and a bevvy of new accessories to make it one of the most compelling tablets available. The new iPad Pro is available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes striking the balance between portability and productivity.
More Svelt & Touting the First Ultra Retina XDR Display
The new iPad Pro will be touting Apple’s new Ultra Retina XDR display. The new display comes with what Apple calls “tandem OLED” technology which allows for more precise and true-to-life colours and better visual performance. The new display has a peak brightness of 1000 nits and a peak HDR brightness of 1600 nits. Its performance is driven by the next-generation GPU of the Apple M4 Chip. The display also comes with a nano-texture which produces less glare thanks to precision etching that doesn’t compromise visual quality and responsiveness.
Together with new display technology, the new iPad Pro also features a new, slimmer design. This design has resulted in lighter weight and a svelt appearance. The new tablets come in at just 5.3mm thin on the 11-inch model and a slimmer 5.1mm on the 13-inch model. Apple claims that the durability of the tablets remains unchanged even with the slimmer profiles. The tablet’s enclosures are also made of 100% recycled aluminium.
Debuting with Apple’s Next Generation Silicon – the M4 Chip
The new M4 chip from Apple delivers improvements not only when it comes to performance, but also in battery efficiency. The M4 silicon is built on Apple’s second-generation 3nm process that delivers better performance with higher power savings. The chip features four performance cores and six efficiency cores. It also leverages new machine learning (ML) accelerators to deliver a touted 50% increase in CPU performance compared to the M2 processor.
Building on the GPU architecture of the M3, the M4 features a whopping 10-core GPU that features Dynamic Caching. This allows for features like hardware-accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing. Both are featured on the iPad lineup for the first time in the new iPad Pro. The Neural Engine of the M4 is Apple’s most powerful to date. It’s capable of 38 trillion operations a second which is 60x faster than the A11 Bionic, Apple’s first chip featuring a Neural Engine.
Updated Cameras & Connectivity
The iPad Pro also comes with an updated camera setup. It features four studio-quality mics complemented by the 12-megapixel back camera. This setup can capture Smart HDR images and high-quality videos even in low light. The camera also comes with a True Tone flash that delivers excellent performance. Scanning documents with the camera is even easier thanks to the flash and intelligent processing by the M4 that delivers high-quality scans. Upfront, the 12-megapixel camera with an ultra-wide viewing angle delivers an updated experience when video calling. Center Stage augments the experience further especially when paired with the Magic Keyboard or Smart Folio.
The iPad Pro comes with a USB-C connector that supports Thunderbolt 3 and USB4. This enables high-speed wired connectivity of up to 40Gbps. With Thunderbolt 3 you can even hook the iPad up to a 6K display and high-speed external storage. It also supports WiFi 6E and 5G for the fastest wireless data connectivity available.
New iPad Pro, New Accessories
The new iPad Pro will also be accompanied by a bevvy of new accessories. Of note are the new Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard. The new Apple Pencil Pro comes with a new sensor that allows users to squeeze the stylus for added functionality. Complementing this is a haptic motor that provides feedback when squeezed or when certain actions are performed. Using a gyroscope, Apple is looking to deliver a more realistic experience with the Apple Pencil Pro allowing users to change the orientation of the shaped pen and brush tools. Users are able to see these changes with a hover that previews the orientation.
The Magic Keyboard has also been updated with a slimmer profile and lighter weight. It now comes with a function row that gives quick access to key settings and features of the iPad and keyboard. It also comes with a larger trackpad with haptic feedback and an aluminium palm rest. Lastly, Apple also announced a new Smart Folio for the iPad Pro that features more viewing angles.
Pricing & Availabilty
The Apple iPad Pro (2024) will be available for pre-order starting May 7, 2024. Store availability will start on 15 May 2024.
The iPad will be available in 13-inch size with WiFi and Cellular options. Pricing for the 13-inch model starts at USD$1,299/RM6,799 for the WiFi model and USD$1,499/RM7,799 for the WiFi+Cellular model. The smaller 11-inch model will be priced at USD$999/RM5,299 for the WiFi model and USD$1,199/RM6,299 for the WiFi+Cellular model. Both versions will be available in Space Black and Silver.
The Apple Pencil Pro will be available for USD$129/RM599.
The 11-inch Magic Keyboard is priced at USD$299/RM1,479 while the 13-inch version is priced at USD$349/RM1,699. It will be available in Black and White.
The Smart Folio will be available in Denim, Black and White and will cost USD$79/RM379 for the 11-inch version and USD$99/RM479 for the 13-inch version.
Apple’s iPad line up have long been the front runners when it comes to tablets. The new generation iPad Air is looking to reinforce that with an updated design, slimmer profile and the Apple M2 chip. The new iPad Air will also be the first iPad Air model to be available in two sizes.
The new iPad Air has been supercharged and updated with some of the hallmark features of the iPad series. It comes with slimmer bezels, a better Liquid Retina Display and is more versatile. It comes in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes that strike a balance between portability and visual real estate.
Also updated in the new Air is camera which has been updated with a 12-megapixel sensor. It’s also got a landscape 12-megapixel camera with Center Stage support. This will allow the camera to ensure that you are center frame when you’re using the table. The new tablet also comes with landscape stereo audio making your media consumption experience more immersive. It also comes with Touch ID and features an enclosure made of recycled aluminium.
Under the hood, the new tablet comes with the Apple M2 Chip. This processor, while not the latest, brings a huge leap in performance for the Air. Compared to the iPad Air with the A12 Bionic, Apple touts 3x life in speed. Compared to the M1 touting Air, Apple is boasting a 50% increase in performance. The new iPad Air is also now 5G enabled and supports up to 1TB of internal storage. It will also support the newly announced Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard.
Pricing & Availability
The new iPad Air will be available in four colours: blue, purple, starlight and space gray. Prices for the 11-inch iPad Air will start at USD$599/RM2,999 for the WiFi model and USD$749/RM3,749 for the WiFi+Cellular model. The 13-inch iPad Air will be priced from USD$799/RM3,999 for the WiFi model and USD$949/RM4,749 for the WiFi+Cellular model.
Android users, your data could be exposed thanks to an implementation flaw in popular apps. Microsoft has recently published a bulletin exposing a critical flaw that could be present in a large amount of applications. Microsoft estimates that the flaw could be in over four billion apps.
The vulnerability, given the moniker “Dirty Stream”, lies in the ability of potentially malicious apps to exploit and abuse Android’s content provider system. This system is designed to enable secure data exchange between apps on Android devices. The data exchange typically employs security measures like permissions, uniform resource identifiers and file path validation to ensure data security. However, sloppy implementation has led to a backdoor ripe for exploitation.
In Microsoft’s research, the incorrect use of the communication layer that allows communication between Android apps, known as “custom intents, can lead to sensitive areas of the app being exposed. This will allow hackers and malicious actors to access and inject malicious code into the app. Attackers can potentially take over the app entirely, access sensitive user data and intercept private logins.
Microsoft is not just exposing the exploit. It has worked proactively with affected developers, alerting them of the potentially vulnerable apps. Some of the apps identified in the report include Xiaomi’s File Manager and WPS Office. Both apps have large user bases. The former boasts a user base of over a billion installations while WPS Office has about 500 million. The companies have deployed fixes to address the issue.
Google has also been alerted. The search behemoth has updated its app security guidelines. The changes highlight common implementation errors that could lead to the security bypass.
It looks like Google Fit is unfit for usage… or at least that’s what happening with Google retiring the APIs. The Google Fit APIs were introduced to the Android ecosystem back in 2017 as the platform’s answer to Apple’s HealthKit. However, it seems like Google isn’t going to develop or support the Google Fit APIs anymore.
In a blog post on the Android Developers Blog, Google indicates that it will not be accepting new sign ups for the Google Fit APIs any longer. The move apparently comes as Google begins to transition to Android Health. Currently, Android Health points to Health Connect, another of Google’s health APIs that was introduced in Android 13 and natively integrated in Android 14. The platform seems to remove any form of off device storage of the collected data but instead opts for an on-device model. Google is giving developers until June 30, 2025 to migrate to Android Health.
The move comes after Google’s purchase of fitness tracking company, Fitbit, in 2021. Just recently, Google has begun shutting down and consolidating a number of Google and Fitbit’s apps and APIs. Fitbit users will have realised that Google has been pushing them to migrate over to a Google account. In fact, some features like sleep tracking have been limited until the migration is done. More recently, Google announced to Fitibit users that Fitbit Pay will be replaced by Google Wallet. More jarringly, Google’s own Pixel Watch lacked the Google Fit app and favoured the Fitbit app instead.
The retirement of Google Fit’s APIs in favour of Android Health/Health Connect may also be a result of the Fitbit purchase as it was stipulated that Google could not access any data collected by Fitbit as a part of the purchase. However, little information has been shared about how Google is using the data since the acquistion was completed.
The larger question remains how will apps and devices that leverage the Google Fit APIs fair after the migration. Keep in mind that a number of Wear OS devices use these APIs for fitness tracking and use the Google Fit App as their main interface. With companies like FOSSIL pulling out of the Wearables market with no comitment to maintain the software on the current devices, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see issues pop up with the fitness tracking on these devices.
What’s more, other Wear OS devices will also need to be updated to migrate to Health Connect. With newer devices like the OPPO Watch X, companies have already created their own apps like OHealth for OPPO and Samsung Wear for Samsung. It’s unclear if these apps will need to migrate over to Android Health or if they are already using the new APIs. However, Google has also highlighted that apps like Lifesum (previously NOOM), Peloton and Oura have already migrated to Android Health. This would mean that apps like Strava and Nike run will also need to be upgraded to support Android Health or lose functionality.
Realme has launched the Realme 12x 5G, a powerful new smartphone designed for the masses. Living up to their “5G for Everyone” motto, the Realme 12x 5G boasts impressive performance, an AI Boost feature, and a smooth 120Hz display, all wrapped in a stylish design.
The Realme 12x 5G comes with the Dimensity 6100+ 5G processor that promises smooth performance. Realme boasts that the 12x 5G can achieve an Impressive AnTuTu benchmark score exceeding 415,800. The synthetic benchmark indicates that the phone should be able to deliver smooth performance. The smartphone comes with 360° Surround Six-Antenna 5G Layout, Signal Enhancement Technology, and Dual-channel Network Acceleration which can help achieve fast download speeds of up to 3.27Gbps. Gamers will appreciate the AI Boost Engine that optimizes resource allocation for a lag-free gaming experience.
The 6.67-inch display prioritizes user comfort by reducing harmful blue light emissions. This has been certified by TUV Rheinland. The display goes as low as 1 nit in brightness, perfect for nighttime viewing. It also offers a peak brightness of 625 nits for clear visibility outdoors.
The Realme 12x 5G brings flagship-level features like Air Gestures for hands-free phone control, Rainwater Smart Touch for operating the phone in the rain, and the Dynamic Button for quick app launching. A TÜV SÜD 48-month Fluency Certificate ensures long-lasting smooth performance, while IP54 water and dust resistance offers peace of mind.
The Realme 12x 5G comes with a Light Feather Design in Feather Green and Glowing Black. The back features hundreds of thousands of hyper-realistic feather motifs and a flagship-inspired middle-round camera layout. The phone boasts a 50-megapixel primary camera for capturing stunning photos. All of these specs are housed in a slim 7.89mm body and powered by a massive 5,000mAh battery with 15W fast charging.
Pricing & Availabilty
The Realme 12x 5G will be available in two versions the 8GB+128GB version will be priced at RM899 and the 8GB+256GB version will set you back RM1099. Both will be available in two colourways: Feather Green and Glowing Black.
It will be available through teleco partners CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile, Yes, redONE, and TM starting May 3rd, 2024. Pre-orders for the phone begin May 5th on Realme’s official Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok stores.
Huawei Unveils the HUAWEI Pura 70 Series in Malaysia: Power, Beauty, and Exclusive Pre-Order Deals
Huawei Malaysia has sneakily announced the pre-order of the Huawei Pura 70 Series. This announcement comes on the heels of its recent launch in China. This new flagship series will succeed the popular P series. It keeps all the best parts of the P series and pushes into the future with a brand-new focus, design and ethos.
Three models from the Pura 70 Series will be available in Malaysia – the vanilla Pura 70, the Pura 70 Pro, and the Pura 70 Ultra. Each phone in the series showcases a captivating fusion of artistry and cutting-edge technology. The HUAWEI Pura 70 stuns with various colour options including pink, white and black, while the HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro comes in classic black and white. The top-of-the-line HUAWEI Pura 70 Ultra offers green, brown, and black with the now signature vegan leather finish.
Pre-ordering your HUAWEI Pura 70 Series device comes with exciting benefits. From May 2nd to 24th, 2024, pre-orders on the Huawei Official Website or selected stores will qualify for complimentary gifts valued at over RM2,000. Additionally, these pre-orders unlock exclusive offers worth over RM500 in savings. Enjoy gym memberships, complimentary coffee, movie tickets, and more from popular brands like AirAsia, Dadi Cinema, and Ogawa.
Pricing & Availability
Pre-orders are now open on the Huawei Official Website and selected Huawei Experience Stores until May 24th, 2024.
The Pura 70 will be available with 256GB of internal storage and 12GB Of RAM. This will be priced at RM3,699. During the pre-order period, you will be entitled to freebies worth RM2,036. This will include a pair of the Huawei Freebuds Pro 3, an RM300 exclusive trade-in rebate or voucher (for existing Huawei users), a regional warranty valid in Asia Pacific and exclusive App Gallery freebies.
Pre-ordering the Pura 70 Pro will entitle you to a similar package with a higher rebate value of RM500 instead; valued at RM2,336. The Pura 70 Pro will be priced at RM4,899 for the variant with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of onboard storage.
The Pura 70 Ultra will be available with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. It will be priced at RM6,599. You will get similar freebies as the Pro and vanilla Pura 70 with an overall value of RM2,376.
Get ready to unleash your inner artist! Huawei is launching GoPaint, a brand-new self-developed painting app designed specifically for tablets.
The official Huawei account teased the app’s arrival with the tagline “Creation begins here!” Mark your calendars for May 7th, because GoPaint is set to launch.
Packed with Features for Creators of All Levels
GoPaint boasts a wide range of brushes and intuitive features, making it easy for both beginners and experienced artists to dive in and create. Huawei is the first major smartphone vendor to develop its own painting app. To do this, the company has leveraged user insights to design GoPaint with a focus on ease of use and maximizing the creative experience.
This launch follows the highly successful GoPaint Worldwide Creating Activity held in 2023. The GoPaint app builds on that momentum. The app is set to offer a professional yet user-friendly platform specifically designed for Huawei tablets. The app is poised to strengthen Huawei’s tablet experience for creatives.
GoPaint integrates seamlessly with this innovative hardware, creating a powerful software and hardware ecosystem. It also brings added features for creatives looking to leverage Huawei’s device ecosystem.
Unveiling Date and What to Expect
The official launch of GoPaint is expected to take place at the HUAWEI Innovative Product Launch on May 7th. The app will boast a comprehensive suite of painting tools, including a variety of brushes developed in collaboration with a leading art team.
GoPaint is also beginner-friendly, offering a full set of tutorials to help users develop their skills progressively. With more exciting features likely to be revealed, May 7th promises to be a big day for creative Huawei tablet users. Stay tuned for the official unveiling!
Samsung introduced Galaxy AI earlier this year with the launch of the brand-new Galaxy S24 series. With Galaxy AI coming to more devices like the Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Z Fold5 and Galaxy S23 series, the company is now showcasing the new features in an experiential event happening throughout May in Semua House in Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur.
The Galaxy AI-volution focuses on all of Galaxy AI’s features with an immersive experiential event collaboratively developed by Samsung and Bomb Battle, Asia’s first immersive video game experience. So, put on your astronaut suit and get ready to take on invaders with the help of Galaxy AI and the Galaxy S24 Series.
In this experiential, you are a national space exploration team recruit. Your mission: to discreetly investigate an abandoned spacecraft for signs of life. During this mission, you will need to decipher clues and alien languages to figure out what this spacecraft is doing in the depths of Semua House in Kuala Lumpur.
The experiential event will walk you through the many Galaxy AI features that are currently available on the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy Tab S9 series and Galaxy Z Fold 5. You will be using Circle to Search with Google to decipher encrypted messages, Note Assist to siphon key information, Chat Assist and Live Translate to translate clues, and Photo Assists to complete tasks in your time as a recruit.
The Galaxy AI-volution Experiential
Galaxy AI-volution is a 5 stage event where you will be able to collect points for exciting prizes. Here are the stages:
Stage 1: Welcome Aboard! – Register yourself on the ground floor and find out what’s ahead with helpful tips to help you clear stages.
Stage 2: Prepare for Takeoff – Get yourself enrolled with a Photo ID as a recruit for the national space exploration team at the AI Edit Photowall on the ground floor. Complete this task and earn yourself 5 points. (Pssst… Don’t forget to look for the UFO!)
Stage 3: AI-Volution x Bomb Battle – head on down to the depths of Semua House and enter the mysterious spacecraft found on level B2. Stay alert, decode puzzles and escape from the inactive spacecraft with the Galaxy S24 as your handy Tricorder. Complete this task and earn yourself 15 points.
Stage 4: The Winning Shot – Once you’ve completed your task. Take a winning photo of yourself in the Nightography room located on Level B1 using the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Complete this task and earn 5 points.
Stage 5: Share the Victory – Finally, shout out your victory! Share and tag a victorious group photo of you and your comrades to redeem amazing gifts! You’ll be awarded 5 points upon completion!
Once you have your points, you’ll be able to redeem prizes. The more points you score the more epic the prizes. You can earn RM10 Touch ‘n Go Credit with 15 points, Exciting Samsung Galaxy x Mindfreakxx Merchandise with 20 points and Pop Mart Blind Box Figurines with 30 points.
Together with the Galaxy AI-volution, Samsung is teaming with Curators.Lab and the Messy Club to bring you an unforgettable retail experience that marries tech and retail. The collaboration kicks-off on 3 May and runs until 26 May 2024.
