Category Archives: News

Accessories, Consumer Electronics, Mobile, News

Sony Announces the LinkBuds WF-L900 – Listen to Music and Talk to Your Friends at the Same Time!

February 16, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

When our friends ask us what they should get as a personal music listening device, we always go back to one brand. If you guessed ‘Sony’, you would be right. Sony is one of the leading brands in audio solutions for many reasons. For one, they make some of the most reliable hardware in the industry. They also make some of the best audio solutions that is accessible to even average joes.

They are also one of the biggest innovators in the industry. They were the first brand to commercialise and nearly perfect Active Noise Cancelling technology for headphones. Plenty of the noise cancelling earphones you can find today can find its roots in Sony’s WH-1000X headphones.

In that sense, it should not be surprising for that company to bring in new innovations to the industry. They just launched something that has been leaked and teased for a while now, the LinkBuds earphones. This is something quite unique.

Instead of the usual Active Noise Cancelling stuff that they have been doing and re-doing for years now, this is the complete opposite. While sharing the same codename family as the Sony WF-1000XM4, the headphone is designed to be a transparent one. That is why it is designed with holes for its tips instead of a sealing plug.

The reason for that is to naturally implant transparency mode for the earphones. The downside, if you want to see it as such at all, is that it is permanently on transparency mode. It is also designed so that you never really have to take the earbuds off even when you need to have conversations.

You might liken it to the bone conducting headphones that is quite popular amongst athletes in the market. Both offers a constant transparency mode that also allows you to never take off your headphones until your battery runs out. Both works a little differently though.

The sony WF-L900 LinkBuds delivers audio like traditional headphones, though a regular audio driver seated within the main body casing of the earphones. Of course, the casing, in this case, sits inside the confines of the ear to produce sound that is delivered through a tip that is usually seated inside the ear to also ensure that the earphones do not fall off.

The Sony WF-L900 LinkBuds are designed a little differently though. With Sony’s extensive expertise on designing earphones, they are able to design the LinkBuds with a casing that ensures its security in your ear without relying on a rubber tip. They also managed to make the compact earbuds lighter than most wireless earbuds of its type. Each bud is only 4 grams in weight, making them barely noticeable when you keep them on.

There is still some form of noise cancelling on the headphone though. Sony applied noise cancelling only for when you make calls to ensure that you have crystal clear calls with your friends. At the same time, Sony’s knowhow in headphones packs a clever pick up that cleverly detects your voice and ensures that it transmits thought the headphones properly.

Of course, the LinkBuds packs many of Sony’s clever technologies to ensure you have the best audio experience available. You get Sony’s industry leading DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) technology to upscale your music. You also get Sony’s highly acclaimed 360 Reality Audio technology for the most immersive audio experience you can have. It is also made to be IPX4 water resistant so that you can wear it even when you get to enjoy it while working out or even out in the rain.

The WF-L900 LinkBuds will last you 5.5 hours on their own. The carrying and charging case provides an extra 12 hours of battery life. It charges quite quickly too; at 10-minute charge within the case gives you up to 90 minutes of music playback.

The Sony WF-L900 LinkBuds will be available in Grey and White at MYR 849, slightly cheaper than the premium WF-1000XM4. The new earphones will be available in Malaysia 17th February onward. For more information on the Sony WF-L900 LinkBuds, you can visit their website.

*Approximately based on exchange rate of GB£ 1 = MYR 5.68 as per 16/02/2022 on xe.com

Computers, News

Microsoft Brings the Surface Laptop Studio to Malaysia for MYR 7,399 Onward

February 15, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

The most powerful Microsoft Surface laptop is finally coming to Malaysia. Announced back in September 2021, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is meant to be a beast of a thing that can keep content creators churning contents out like champs. It is also Microsoft’s first notebook that features an ezel-style (Dynamic Woven Hinge) hinge to turn it into a studio powerhouse. Of course, it is a touch sensitive display too. With a stylus, it is made to be the ultimate tool in a creative environment.

A studio powerhouse is meant to be powerful, so Microsoft fitted this laptop with a powerful H35 series 11^th Generation Intel Core processor (up to Core i7-11370H). Of course, a studio notebook is not complete without a powerful GPU to ensure that it can handle multiple displays and whatever software you can think of throwing at it. For that, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio features up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti.

In Malaysia, you can spec your Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio with up to 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage. Unfortunately, you can only get those specs in Harvey Norman. If not, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD should be more than enough for today’s studio standards. For anything more in terms of storage, you might want to think about getting external back up drives.

The 14.4-inch display is an impressive one. The touch sensitive display refreshes at up to 120Hz. When you get some inspiration, the Surface Slim Pen 2 stylus is conveniently tucked away underneath the keyboard. To get some inspiration or some entertainment, you get a Dolby Atmos certified Quad Omnisonic speakers.

Source: Microsoft
Source: Microsoft
Source: Microsoft
Source: Microsoft
Source: Microsoft
Source: Microsoft

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is now available for pre-order from authorised retailers across the nation. As mentioned, this includes Harvey Norman toon. It starts at MYR 7,399 for an Intel Core i5, Intel Iris Xe Graphics variant that also comes with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. It tops out at MYR 9,399 for an Intel Core i7 variant that comes with NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD. The Harvey Norman exclusive will retail for MYR 11,999. While it comes with 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD storage, it only packs the power of an Intel Core i5 and Intel Iris Xe Graphics. Of course, all of them comes with Windows 11. More information on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio can be found on their website.

Android, Mobile, News

Nokia Announces the G21 with 90Hz Display and 50MP Camera

February 14, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Nokia came back into the smartphone market with quite a bang. Unfortunately, they are not as popular as they were before. Still, Nokia is a popular smartphone maker with Android within their devices. They are popular in the scene of affordable Android devices – the entry-level to mid-range smartphone segment.

They kick off 2022 with a more modest note though. They have just released their Nokia G21, the replacement to their entry-level champion, the G20. This time, they have focused on all the important stuff that is aimed to make the device more reliable than ever.

Nokia retained a few things from the G20 though. The Nokia G21 still comes with a large 5,050mAh battery that has a quoted battery life of three days while being a little thinner at 8.5mm thick. While that is also the same promise before, Nokia is ensuring that the G21 can last for three days by improving its power saving modes, or rather to implement them in stages. The first power saving mode triggers at 20% and still allows you to run most of your apps as normally as possible. The second, more aggressive power saving mode kicks in at 10% to extend the battery life even more.

Nokia also increased the charging speed on the Nokia G21 to now be delivered at 18W via a USB Type-C. Interestingly Nokia is reportedly shipping the device with a 10W charging brick. To fully take advantage of 18W charging speed, you need to buy a new charging brick.

The new Nokia G21 also comes with a large 6.5-inch LCD display with 90Hz refresh rate. Running the display at 90hz always can drain its battery though. There is an adaptive feature to reduce the display’s refresh rate to 60Hz (when needed) to get more battery life out of the device. It is also now a HD+ 720p display. Which means you can watch Netflix, Prime Video, and even YouTube at HD resolutions.

You get a new 50-Megapixel shooter out the back of the device. The new improved camera also features a night mode, and Super Resolution function to capture highly detailed images. Sadly, there is no more ultra-wide-angle lens on the device though. Alongside the 50-Megapixel sensor are two 2-Megapixel sensors, one is a macro lens, the other a depth sensor.

Inside the device is also a more powerful System on a Chip (SoC). It comes with a Unisoc T606 12nm chip with eight cores. Two of the performance cores are ARM Cortex A75 cores while the other six efficiency cores are Cortex A55 cores that is still more powerful than the eight Cortex A53 cores from the previous Helio G35. The Unisoc T606 is also paired with a 4GB RAM and up to 128GB of storage and microSD expansion.

Oddly enough, Nokia has not bothered with 5G with this device, it is 4G capable still. On that note as well, the Nokia G21 ships with Android 11 at the time being. Nokia claims that the G21 is Android 12 ready though, which means that the Nokia G21 can be updated to Android 12 as and when it is available. HMD also promised two OS upgrades on their devices, which also means that it will be upgradable to Android 13 when it is available.

Security wise, nothing much has changed too. You still get a side-mounted fingerprint sensor that also doubles as a power button. Of course, there is the regular face unlock function that you might be used to on modern Android devices today. The facial recognition now allows you to wear your face mask and unlock the device though.

Source: GSM Arena
Source: GSM Arena
Source: GSM Arena
Source: GSM Arena
Source: GSM Arena
Source: GSM Arena
Source: GSM Arena
Source: GSM Arena
Source: GSM Arena

The Nokia G21 is supposed to be available soon. The suggested retail price for this device is from €170 (MYR 806*) onward in Nordic Blue and Dusk colour options. Oddly enough, different regions get different packages for the device. For Malaysia, there are no confirmations on its availability and official pricing at this point. But we are looking forward to seeing the Nokia G21 making its way here.

*Approximately based on the exchange rate of €1 = MYR 4.74 on xe.com as of 14/02/2022

Source: GSM Arena

Accessories, Android, Health, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

TAG Heuer Introduces New Generation Connected Calibre E4 Smartwatch Ready for Wear OS 3

February 11, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Smartwatch and luxury watch rarely grace the same sentence. They are hardly related or relatable to each other too. A luxury watch enthusiast might not even regard a smartwatch a watch at all. It is more a ‘digital display on your wrist’.

While that is a fair observation, the smartwatch has come a long way since its inception many years ago. A smartwatch today can easily outsell any regular watch you might find in the market. That is not only because of its more accessible than ever pricing. It is choke full of features, making it a better value buy than a regular watch.

Luxury watch on the other hand, has an appeal of its own. Luxury watch pieces are usually highly exclusive pieces made with limited quantity in mind. The build process of the timepiece is also considered when it comes to luxury watches. At the same time, a luxury watch is supposed to last forever, while a smartwatch’s relevance is limited by their software.

What if you can merge the two together though? Impossible? TAG Heuer does not think so with their first Connected Watch launched back in 2015. They have not launched any new versions of their premium smartwatch since then, but then again, there has not been any interesting developments on Google’s Wear OS since then. The TAG Heuer Connected was, in its day, the most expensive Wear OS device money can buy.

Their silence in the smartwatch market does not mean that they are not interested in the smartwatch game anymore though. They confirmed that by releasing this, the new TAG Heuer Connected. They call it the Calibre E4.

The new Connected Calibre E4 comes in two variants this time. Instead of just sticking to a large 45mm diameter body, it now comes in a smaller 42mm case. The 42mm, as per TAG Heuer, is made to be more appealing to the larger market. It is also designed to be a little more elegant with thin bezels and thinner case than the regular 45mm. Smaller also means that it is sportier.

Then there is the 35mm TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4. It is the largest modern Wear OS smartwatch you can find to date. Its impressive size is not just for show though. TAG Heuer ensures that the Connected Calibre E4 can withstand all sorts of scuffs and bumps with ceramic bezel surrounding the Sapphire crystal glass protecting the touch display. You can opt for a titanium case for your TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 too.

Of course, a watch is nothing without its straps and bracelets. The strap is also the only way for your watch to stand out, in a traditional sense anyway. For that, TAG Heuer offers a library of straps and bracelet for you to work with.

For a smartwatch, you can easily stand out just by changing your watch face. The Calibre E4 is a Wear OS device, which also means that you will have access to the large watch face library from the Google Play Store. TAG Heuer also made some new exclusive watch faces for the Connected Calibre E4 though, which will help you stand out among the sea of Google Wear OS devices out there.

Within the svelte cases, both the 42mm and 45mm variants are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 4100+ for wearables. While it is not running on Wear OS 3 on launch, you can upgrade it to Wear OS 3 as soon as the Operating System (OS) is ready. Both smartwatches offer Bluetooth 5.0 and WiFi connectivity for more stable connection with your smartphones.

The difference in size allows the 45mm variant to come with a 430mAh built in battery compared to 330mAh on the 42mm. They also claimed that the 45mm offers a 30% increase in battery life compared to the older Connected. In golf function, the watch will last five hours continuously. The 45mm also offers a larger display experience compared to the 42mm, obviously at 1.39-inch of OLED goodness (454 x 454 pixels) compared to 1.28-inch (416 x 416 pixels).

Source: TAG Heuer
Source: TAG Heuer
Source: TAG Heuer
Source: TAG Heuer
Source: TAG Heuer
Source: TAG Heuer
Source: TAG Heuer

Price and Availability

The TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 is set to start shipping and be available in stores starting March 2022. Price? This is going to hurt your wallet a little bit. If you are looking to find a budget smartwatch, this will not be it, turn away now. It will set you back US$ 1,800 (MYR 7,541*) at launch. For more information on the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 you can visit their website.

*Based on approximate exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.19 as of 11/02/2022 on xe.com

Android, Mobile, News

Samsung Announces Four Generations of Update Support – Time to Buy a Galaxy?

February 10, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Samsung just launched their latest flagship smartphones for the year 2022. They launched a few things last night. You see the Samsung Galaxy S22 series launched, including a Samsung Galaxy Note-esque Galaxy S22 Ultra. Alongside the Ultra is the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S 22+. They also launched their latest larger-than-life tablet that is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 in three variants as well – the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, Galaxy Tab S8+, and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra.

With the new devices, they have also announced a new commitment to their devices, new and old. They have announced that they are going to be supporting updates to up to four generations for their latest Samsung Galaxy devices. That means that their new shiny Samsung Galaxy S22 devices will stay relevant until the year 2026 (if my math is right) at least. If you count the security updates, that could mean 2027 even.

The commitment is not just made for Samsung’s latest Galaxy devices that was launched last night though. The four generations of support extend of some of Samsung’s devices that was launched last year too. This includes the flagship models like the Samsung Galaxy S21 series and the Galaxy Z series of foldable devices. It also extends to certain Samsung Galaxy A devices coming this year, none of the older Galaxy A series gets the treatment. You Samsung Galaxy Watch4 devices will also get updated for the next four years.

While 4 years is a big deal in the world of Android, it still pales in comparison to what Apple has been doing over the years though. Their Apple iOS 15.2 is available even to the Apple iPhone 6S, a device launched in 2015. That is seven years of software update and support, which is already normal to Apple iPhone users at this point. That also means that if you are on an Apple iPhone, you may not have to worry about not getting the latest and greatest from Apple until your device is old. That also eliminates the need for you to upgrade every few years or so. That saves you some bucks too, of course.

To be fair, while we are avid fans of the Android ecosystem, we must admit that the manufacturers have horrible track record in keeping their devices relevant for more than two years, let alone three. Earlier Samsung devices would only be updated to the next iteration of Android once before becoming completely irrelevant in the coming months. It is highly annoying, and if you want to be updated, it gets expensive.

Four years, compared to Apple’s seven may still pale in comparison. But it is a start, a commitment at least from Samsung that their devices should remain relevant in the coming years. That also means that if you are on a Samsung Galaxy S21, or even a Galaxy Z Fold3, you can hold off your device upgrade until 2025 or so, and you will be completely fine. Still, we do hope that Samsung and Google can commit to a more robust and stretch their software support to at least five years; we think that is a reasonable amount of time before you upgrade your smartphone.

Android, Mobile, News

Bigger is Better with the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series

February 9, 2022 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Samsung’s commitment to tabs hasn’t wavered since its first lineup of tablets. The Galaxy Tab S series emerged from the chaotic Android tablet landscape with Samsung taking the lead in creating a tablet experience that made a difference. More recently, the Galaxy Tab S7 series took a sharp focus on bringing a seamless, multi-device experience with other Galaxy devices. The newly announced Galaxy Tab S8 series takes that focus and turns things up to a 20.

1 010 Family Tab S8 Ultra Graphite Tab S8 Silver Tab S8 Pink Gold LI — Source: Samsung

For the first time, Samsung announced not one, two but three tablets: the Galaxy Tab S8, Tab S8+ and Tab S8 Ultra. The new lineup takes a sharp focus on enhancing the experience that the Galaxy Tab S7 series brought when it came to multitasking and productivity and turns it up a notch for a more hybridized life with work from anywhere.

Technologically Packed for a Future of Hybrid Living

The Tab S8 series comes with the same 4nm processors used in the S22 series and the same enhanced S Pen from the S22 Ultra. Of course, it goes without saying that the size of the S Pen is larger than the one on the Ultra. With up to 16GB of RAM on the Tab S8 Ultra and up to 12GB of RAM on the Tab S8 and S8+, the new lineup should be able to handle nearly anything you throw at it. It also has up to 256GB of internal memory with support for additional memory via a microSD card.

The new tablets share the same build DNA as the Galaxy S22 series. It is made of armour aluminium for added strength and rigidity. The Tab S8+ and S8 Ultra come with a Super AMOLED display with support for up to a 120Hz refresh rate. The former has a 12.4-inch display while the latter comes with a humungous 14.6-inch display. The Tab S8 comes with a smaller 11-inch LTPS TFT display which supports the same 120 Hz refresh rate.

When it comes to the cameras, the tablets come with the same dual-camera setup across the board. The main sensor is a 13-megapixel sensor with autofocus. This is complemented with a 6-megapixel ultra-wide sensor. The cameras are built to help with content creation and also video calls. The focus on video calls is most apparent in the dual-camera setup on the front of the Galaxy Tab S8+. The setup consists of two 12-megapixel sensors: a wide and ultra-wide one. On the Tab S8 and S8+, this is a single 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor. However, both versions are augmented with software features that try to enhance the video calling experience.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series Unpacked 03

The tablets promise all-day battery life with their large batteries. The Tab S8 comes with an 8,000mAh battery while the S8+ comes with a 10,090mAh and the Ultra comes with a larger 11,200mAh. The tablets support 45W fast charging which allows them to get a full charge in 90 mins.

Software Features that Make Sense

While the hardware may differ slightly in the Galaxy Tab S8 series, they all come with the same One UI 4 interface. The interface is built on Android 12 and brings a level of customizability that One UI has never had before. Everything from icons to colour accents on the interface can be changed.

Of course, a Samsung tablet experience would be incomplete without Samsung DeX. This interface allows the Tab S8 series to look and feel more like a laptop computer. The new Tab S8 series brings an updated version of DeX that will support more apps in windowed mode and work seamlessly across multiple Galaxy devices.

Samsung has also upped the ante when it comes to integration with other platforms particularly Windows. The Tab S8 series can function as an additional display when you’re using your Windows laptop. That said, it brings its own productivity features with enhancements brought by One UI 4. With One UI 4, you will be able to use up to three apps simultaneously in split-screen mode with the ability to shift and resize as needed.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series Unpacked 02

The Galaxy Tab S8 series also comes with three mics for a better, more optimised video call experience. The mics work simultaneously with AI algorithms to cancel ambient noise and enhance your voice when on video calls. You’ll also be able to focus on your call as the camera also comes with Auto Framing which detects and optimised the frame for up to 10 individuals within 5 meters of the camera. You can even track yourself to ensure you’re always in frame.

Pricing & Availability

The Galaxy Tab S8 series will be available starting on February 10, 2022. The Galaxy Tab S8 and S8+ will be available in Silver, Graphite and Pink Gold. The S8 Ultra will be available only in Graphite.

The Tab S8 is priced starting from USD$699 (MYR2,925.45) while the Tab S8+ will start from USD$899 (MYR3,762.48) and the Ultra will be priced from USD$1,099 (MYR4,599.52).

In Malaysia, the Galaxy Tab S8 series will be priced as follows:

Model	RRP	Memory & Storage	Colour
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra	RM5,899	12GB + 256GB	Graphite
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+	RM4,599	8GB + 256GB	Graphite, Silver, Pink Gold
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8	RM3,299	8GB + 128GB	Graphite, Silver, Pink Gold

Android, Mobile, News

The Galaxy Note Series is Back as the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

February 9, 2022 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Samsung isn’t messing around with the Galaxy S series this year. With their refocusing of the Galaxy S22 and S22+, they’re also working on redefining their Galaxy S22 Ultra. After skipping the release of a new Galaxy Note last year, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is being imbued with the DNA and ethos of their most popular lineup.

The new Galaxy S22 Ultra is going through a total makeover this year and it starts with the design and seeps into its features. The first thing you’re going to realise about the new Galaxy S22 Ultra is that it doesn’t even share a hair with the design language of its siblings, the S22 and the S22+. Instead, its design cues hearken from the Galaxy Note series. In fact, it’s even adopted the integrated S-Pen slot! In essence, the Galaxy Note seems to have found new life as the top-of-the-line Galaxy S22 Ultra.

When it comes to materials, the Ultra shares the same materials that were used in its sibling devices. It comes with the same armour aluminium frame sandwiched in Gorilla Glass Victus+ that we see in the S22 and S22+. However, that’s where the similarities end. The Galaxy S22 Ultra adopts a dual-curved design that meets at the middle of the frame for a more ergonomic finish. It also has an angular finish. It has a rectangular silhouette that we saw in the Galaxy Note20+. However, like the Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22+, the S22 Ultra is also thicker. The thickness gives it a more natural feel in the hand. The S Pen finds itself back where it belongs in a slot on the right side of the device. On the back, the cameras are nearly flush and protected by Gorilla DX.

Making a Note-able Comeback

Speaking of the S Pen, it’s making a note-able comeback. Puns aside, the S Pen on the S22 Ultra is not the same we’ve seen in the Note10. Samsung has worked on making the writing experience on the S22 Ultra an even more natural one. The latency of the S Pen has been reduced even further to 2.8ms. This is done with improvements to the Wacom technology in the S22 Ultra as well as with AI prediction algorithms. The new Wacom IC is more sensitive allowing faster reaction to inputs while AI works in the background to predict the trajectory of the S Pen when in use. This time it will be able to predict multiple trajectories which allow the experience to feel even more instantaneous.

Together with the new hardware and AI, the S Pen is also supported by new software features. The Samsung Notes app is getting a few new features including improved handwriting recognition. You will be able to convert your handwritten notes into tidier typed out notes with a single click. It’s also coming with a new Quick Notes feature which allows you to capture full web pages for your notes. Additionally, it will also be able to work seamlessly with the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 in Collaboration View. This allows you to not only share via nearby share but also work on a larger display when needed. Similarly, Samsung has worked with Clip Studio to allow you to use the S22 Ultra as your colour palette for more precise control of colours in your digital art. You can even use the S22 Ultra’s camera to get colours you can’t get in the palette by snapping a photo and lifting the colour from there.

Packed with Cutting Edge Technology

Of course, it goes without saying that the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra’s note-able features are supported by the latest technologies. Like the S22 and the S22+. the S22 Ultra is coming with the latest 4nm processor. Depending on the region you’re in, it may be the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or the AMD RDNA touting Exynos 2200. The processor will be complemented by either 8GB or 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage. The S22 Ultra comes with the same 120 Hz capable Dynamic AMOLED 2X display as its siblings albeit in a larger 6.8-inch flavour.

When it comes to the camera, it’s imbued with the same features that are packed in its siblings. However, it comes with a more robust quad camera setup. The main sensor is a 108-megapixel wide sensor with dual pixel autofocus, an f/1.8 aperture and an 85° field of view (FOV). This is complemented with a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and 120° FOV and two 10-megapixel telephoto sensors. One of which is capable of 3x optical zoom and has an f/2.4 aperture while the other is capable of 10x optical zoom with an f/4.9 aperture. The front camera is a 40-megapixel sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and 80° FOV.

Like the S22 and S22+, the camera of the S22 Ultra comes with new enhancements. The biggest enhancement is the larger pixels of the 108-megapixel sensor which is 1.23 times the size of the pixels of the Galaxy S21. In addition, it utilizes the same nona binning technology for better low light photographs. Galaxy AI enhances this with multi-frame exposure. This means that the camera will take up to 20 frames and use the data in each to get a more detailed picture with better dynamic range. The more capable NPU in the processors of the Galaxy S22 Ultra allows it to process up to 4 times the data. The Galaxy S22 Ultra is also able to shoot in 16-bit RAW which allows for more flexibility when processing pictures.

It also comes with an enhanced super steady mode which allows you to shoot even steadier video at higher resolutions. Portrait mode has also been enhanced with Galaxy AI. A new feature called AI Stereo map captures a more detailed picture of your subject and allows you to adjust everything from the intensity of the bokeh to the light positioning with the new Studio Lighting feature.

Pricing & Availability

The Galaxy S22 Ultra will be available starting February 10, 2022, in Malaysia. It will be available in Phantom White, Phantom Black, Green and Burgundy. Prices for the Galaxy S22 Ultra will start from MYR5,099 (USD$1,218.46) for the lowest variant.

Prices and variants for Malaysia are as below:

Models	RRP
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G 512GB	RM 5,899
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G 256GB	RM 5,499
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G 128GB	RM 5,099

Official Specifications

Android, Mobile, News

Samsung Unveils New Galaxy S22 & Galaxy S22+

February 9, 2022 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Samsung’s Galaxy S series has been the company’s hallmark Android touting series since its first foray into smartphones. This year it looks like the company is turning its formulaic approach on its head by bringing some of the signature design and features of its Note line up to the flagship. The new Galaxy S22 series not only builds on features of the Galaxy S21 and the new 4nm chipsets, but it’s also set on redefining the Galaxy S series moving forward.

This year’s Galaxy S22 series will be coming with three versions as it has before – the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra. However, Samsung is changing things up when it comes to the features and differentiation between the smartphones in the series. While the biggest change in their approach this year is with the Ultra, we’re zooming in on the Galaxy S22 and S22+ here.

Designed for Functionality & Durability

Samsung is reigning things back a little bit when it comes to the design of the S22 and S22+. It’s keeping things familiar with design cues we’re used to seeing in the Galaxy S series thanks to the S21. However, they’ve done away with the multicoloured colourways which left a lasting impression – at least for now. The smartphones are now flat. The curved screens we’re used to on the Galaxy S series are no more.

That said, Samsung has focused on making the new S series devices are sturdier and more functional. The Galaxy S22 and S22+ come with Armour Alumunium which made its debut with the Fold3 and Flip3. It gives added strength and rigidity to the frame of the phone and to the camera modules under the metallic camera hump. This is sandwiched by Gorilla Glass Victus with a matte coloured finish.

It’s not a question of “how thin can you go” for Samsung anymore, they’ve focused on making their phones last longer and feel more ergonomic in hand. The S22 and S22+ have thicker silhouettes but hold larger 3,700mAh and 4,500mAh batteries respectively. The thicker form also allows you to hold the phone with a firmer grip.

Camera, Camera and more Galaxy AI

The Galaxy S22 and S22+ are sticking to the Galaxy S formula. They’re looking to build on the camera features with their new release. Samsung’s focus this year is very much on their improved Galaxy AI implementation and also bringing features that make sense. The S22 and S22+ come with the same camera setup. They have a triple sensor setup. The main sensor is a 50-megapixel (f/1.8) wide sensor with Dual Pixel autofocus, optical image stabilisation (OIS), and an 85° field of view (FOV). This is complemented by a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and 120° FOV and a 10-megapixel telephoto sensor capable of 3x optical zoom with an f/2.4 aperture and 36° FOV. On the front is a 10-megapixel sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and 80° FOV. While it may seem like the S22 and S22+ is taking a step back when it comes to the telephoto sensor, Samsung is claiming that they are able to achieve better performance with a larger main sensor and the 12-megapixel telephoto sensor.

The mainstay of the new camera is the improved VDI that comes with the 4nm processors that Samsung is using in their flagships. The improved processing of images allows them to bring better low light performance as well as imbue its camera with more Galaxy AI features for better pictures. Samsung’s buzzword this year is “Nightography”. With “Nightography”, the company is highlighting their new approach to low light photography on smartphones. In particular, how Galaxy AI composites 20 different versions of the same image for better low light results. It also improves dynamic range and creates a more detailed picture. Of course, this works in tandem with the nona binning technology that we’ve seen in Galaxy S smartphones before. When taking low light video, Galaxy AI will also adjust the frame rate of the video to ensure the best result.

1 12 Galaxy S22 Plus Pet portrait LI — Source: Samsung

Galaxy AI also brings features like Auto Frame which intelligently adjusts the camera’s framing to ensure that the person or object of interest is constantly in the frame. Even when it comes to moving subjects, Galaxy AI is able to adjust for the best framing. With the version in the Galaxy S22 and S22+, you’ll be able to automatically track up to 10 subjects. The Galaxy S22 and S22+ are also able to shoot in 16-bit RAW format. This will allow you to have more flexibility when it comes to posting processing shots taken on the smartphone.

In addition to this, Galaxy AI is also taking charge of the frame rate of your phone. While the new smartphones come with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with 120Hz refresh rate, they will not be running at 120Hz all the time. Galaxy AI will dynamically adjust the screen frame rate for better battery performance according to the content on the screen. It will go all the way down to 1Hz when viewing still images.

Pricing & Availability

The Galaxy S22 and S22+ will be available in Phantom Black, Phantom White, Green and Pink Gold. They will be available with either 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage or 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal memory. All Galaxy S22 and S22+ models will be available starting February 10, 2022.

Prices in Malaysia are as follows:

Models	RRP
Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G 256GB	RM 4,299
Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G 128GB	RM 4,099
Samsung Galaxy S22 5G 256GB	RM 3,699
Samsung Galaxy S22 5G 128GB	RM 3,499

Official Specifications

Accessories, Android, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Sony Launches Two New Premium Walkman Music Players – Yes, Walkman is Still a Thing

February 9, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

When you talk about portable music, 20 years ago you would be looking at something like a Sony Walkman player that played cassettes and later, CDs. Mind you this was the time before MP3 players was a thing. This was way before Apple’s iPod came into the market too.

To be fair, the Sony Walkman brand has existed since 1979 and they were one of the pioneers of portable music. They were so popular until the 2000s that their brand name is synonymous with portable music. The millennium changed, and times changed with that too. Apple introduced the Apple iPod, a digital music player that holds 1000 songs within a premium shell that is packaged smaller than the smallest cassette player Sony could make. It also holds more songs than any single CDs, at the same time you can just change your loadout at any given time eliminating the need to lug around CD cases with you.

The Apple iPod revolutionised portable music and marks the beginning of digital music players. Sony’ Walkman had to evolve. To their credit though, they have evolved and progressed by quite a lot since.

Sony’s Walkman are still makers of portable digital music players. But they are not just any music players. They are some of the most premium digital music players in the market, and there are two new ones.

Welcome to the NW-WM1ZM2 and NW-WM1AM2 high-resolution portable digital audio players.

Sony Walkman NW-WM1ZM2

Source: Sony
Source: Sony

They call this one the ‘Signature Series’. There is a very good reason for that. This is the more premium one between the two, and you can tell just by looking at it too. The NEW-WM1ZM2’s chassis is made of 99.99% purity (4N) Gold-Plated Oxygen-Free Copper plates. This is not done just to make it look impressive, it is proper material science here. The superior digital grounding from the material combination ensures cleaner electrical signals from the internal components to produce cleaner, richer, expansive, and more accurate sounds. Of course, the chassis is also made with rigidity in mind.

Sony Walkman NW-WM1AM2

Source: Sony
Source: Sony

It does not get space age material like its more premium brother. But it is still a solid aluminium alloy frame that is resistive to electrical noise to ensure that you still get a high-quality audio reproduction. That, on top of Oxygen Free Copper cables that runs from the same state-of-the-art amp as the NW-WM1ZM2 to the AUX jack should still provide you with a highly accurate and immersive audio experience with low distortion and noise.

State-of-the-art Technology

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

The new music players have something called an S-Master HX amp technology. It is a full amplifier that is manufactured and made to fit inside the tiny bodies of the new music players. The result of that is a powerful amp that is capable of reproducing sounds at a greater dynamic range. To ensure that you get the purest of sounds, Sony fitted various FT CAP3 capacitors paired with a large solid high polymer capacitor that offers large electrical capacitance and low resistance.

From the amp to your headphones is a thick KIMBER KABLE (NW-WM1ZM2) wiring from the amp to the headphone jack. To ensure that you get the best audio experience you can have, Sony also includes a dual clock and fine sound register within the Walkmans. They went an extra mile with manufacturing as well this round by using reflow solder with gold in it.

Sony’s DSEE Ultimate is a world renown upscaling technology they extensively use in all their premium audio products. The algorithm allows any sort of music file you put into the player to be played at CD-quality (16 bit 44.1/48kHz) lossless audio. The algorithm fills the gaps that has been created when music is compressed and restores all the acoustic subtleties and dynamic range lost due to the compression. Of course, you get the benefit of Balanced Connection and High-Res Audio support with the new Sony Walkmans so that you can hear music the way the artists intended them to be.

Just Like Your Smartphone, But Just Better for Music

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

Both the new music players work like regular smartphones, to make your life easier. They are also Wi-Fi compatible now, which also means you have access to music streaming services now, should you choose to use them instead of loading your own music files into the device. All of these are accessible via the large 5.0-inch HD 720p touch sensitive display.

If you are in for a long travel plan, you are going to appreciate its extensive battery life. You can continuously play 96kHz FLAC High-Resolution codec files for up to 40 hours on a single charge. Of course, you charge via a modern USB Type-C port that doubles as data transfer port. To ensure you have enough music to play for 40 hours, you get up to 256GB (128GB for NW-WM1AM2) in built-in storage. If that is not enough to hold all your collection, there is a MicroSD card slot to expand your library.

Availability

The NW-WM1ZM2 and NW-WM1AM2 will be available in Malaysia from April 2022 onward. Pre-orders are supposed to start from the 17^thof March 2022 onward. They have not announced the official pricing of the item yet though. We expect the prices to be announced nearer to the pre-order dates. More information on the new Sony Walkman devices on their website.

Business, Computers, Mobile, News

[UPDATED] NVIDIA + ARM Deal is Not Happening After All!

February 8, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

[UPDATE on 09/02/2022] NVIDIA and SoftBank has officially announced that the ARM acquisition bid from NVIDIA will not go through! Read SoftBank’s statement here.

NVIDIA, the world’s largest graphics chip maker, expressed their interest in acquiring ARM, the people behind some of the world’s most powerful mobile chips currently, back in 2020. It was not just an expressed interest though; they really started the whole process of acquiring the chip designers from 2020 onward. It became a whole thing too through 2021.

To be fair, the concerns that were raised by multiple parties regarding the acquisition efforts were not baseless. Companies like Qualcomm, Microsoft, even Samsung and Apple rely on ARM’s chip architecture and designs for their processing chips. It makes sense then that Qualcomm and even Microsoft would have objected the acquisition efforts. The purchase could have led to a massive imbalance in the chip business, since ARM is a key player in the chip making industry. If the purchase went through, it would have been the biggest ever in the chip business too with Softbank selling it at US$ 66 billion.

There were also a lot of regulatory issues that were raised prior to 2022 regarding the purchase. Investigations were also launched by United Kingdom, United States, and European Union as well regarding the acquisition. They raised concerns of anti-competition efforts and market monopoly despite NVIDIA promising that ARM’s deal with all its customers will still be honoured and it will be business as usual.

There are no official announcements just yet on the deal not going through. NVIDIA, ARM, and SoftBank have not commented on the reports that first broke on Financial Times. According to early reports too, SoftBank, ARM’s owners will be receiving US$ 1.25 billion from NVIDIA for failing the acquisition bid.

The falling through of the deal should be a relief to many in the tech industry. It means that Apple, Qualcomm, Intel, Samsung, and plenty of other key chip manufacturers can sleep soundly as their deal with ARM continue without NVIDIA’s intervention. Their relief is another person’s headache though, in this case probably two. SoftBank is still selling ARM, but given the significance of ARM in the industry, selling the chip designers will be a tall order. As for NVIDIA, their stock prices might tank once the fall through is official, but it is NVIDIA after all, they should bounce back quickly enough. If you want to know more about the acquisition bid, you can head over to NVIDIA’s blog.

Source: 9 to 5 Mac, ars Technica, The Verge

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Sony Launches Two New Premium Walkman Music Players – Yes, Walkman is Still a Thing

Sony Walkman NW-WM1ZM2

Sony Walkman NW-WM1AM2

State-of-the-art Technology

Just Like Your Smartphone, But Just Better for Music

Availability

[UPDATED] NVIDIA + ARM Deal is Not Happening After All!

Tech Your Way