Category Archives: News

Computers, Consumer Electronics, Gaming, Lifestyle, News

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 Lands in Malaysia for MYR 9,499

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A few months ago, Samsung launched this behemoth of a thing. It was made for gamers, and it was a gaming peripheral that the ultimate gamer would need. If anyone would own one, it is the ultimate statement piece. That was July 2021.

They call it the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 gaming monitor and it looked glorious. While it was more expensive than the older Odyssey G9 that it replaced, the improvements perhaps more than justifies its price tag. Not that you get a bigger display or anything, you just get a much better package than before.

The headline figures say it all. Mini LED, dual QHD 1440p resolution at 49 inches (32:9) with 12-bit colours, HDR2000 at 2000nits and 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and 240Hz. No matter how you look at it, it just sounds majestic. It also sounds like an awfully expensive television set, not a gaming monitor.

We assure you that we are talking about a gaming monitor though. The 49-inch stretches to an ultrawide aspect ratio of 32:9. It is also compatible with NVIDIA’s G-Sync, and AMD’s FreeSync Premium to take advantage of anything you already have. Unfortunately, your PlayStation and Xbox will not be able to fill up the display, this is a PC only territory. It also has something Samsung calls ‘CoreSync’ lighting. The RGB lighting at the back lights up according to the dominant colour of your display to further transport and immerse you in your games.

Of course, to look the part, it has to work the part. That is why the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9’s 49-inch Mini LED panel’s feed is fed by HDMI 2.1. At 2,048 dimming zones, you are getting a gaming and viewing experience like no other; you might as well live in the game world. It reacts quickly too at 1ms GtG response time. When Samsung says this is the ultimate gaming display, we believe it.

  • ODYSSEY NEO G9 MAS 1
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Unfortunately, at the time of launch, Malaysia did not get to see the Odyssey Neo G9. The hope that it would arrive sooner was bleak due to the major stock shortage Samsung faced. Halted and delayed productions of course played a part in the whole thing too.

Now though, you do not need to just dream of the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9, you can officially own it in Malaysia. The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is now available in Samsung Official Stores and showrooms across the nation. Of course, you can get them from Samsung’s official retailers and resellers as well. How much? It will set you back MYR 9,499. We predicted that this would set you back a little over MYR 1,000 above its official asking price though. in that case, all in all, that is not a bad asking price, if you have the money.

Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Now you can Easily Block Other People on Spotify

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Today’s generation is the most connected one so far. But it is a generation also where cutting off someone is as easy as a click of a button. There is something called ‘cancel culture’ in the world of social media today.

While there are plenty of reasons why you would want to cut a person off, for whatever reasons, on social media, wanting to block a person on streaming platform like Spotify is a little odd. There is a way to block certain artists from ever appearing on your Spotify home feed. That feature was introduced back in 2019. For whatever reason as well, users have been wanting to block other users instead on the platform.

To be fair, Spotify is more than just a music streaming app today. It is also a social platform where you can add friends, follow their playlists and even see what they are playing in real time. In a sense, if someone is in your friends list, their listening privacy is gone. You can ensure that your listening session does not appear on any of your friends feed by turning on ‘Private Session’, but that only lasts for a limited time before Spotify kicks you back into online mode to update your songs and your recommendations.

You now can decide to block other users from accessing your activities now though. It is as simple as clicking the person’s profile and tap the “Block User” option. Once you have done that, the person will not be able to see you appearing on their ‘friend’s activity’ list on the right side of the app anymore, at least on the desktop interface. That way, you also limit what you show the person you blocked.

While showing your Spotify activity may not seem all that harmful, it could lead to a bigger impact. Some might think that just showing the ‘Now Listening to’ information as an empty information your friends cannot use. For example, other users can use the activity information from Spotify to harass you on other platforms like Facebook or Instagram, for example. They could also use whatever information they can gather against you as well for that matter. Remember, information in the wrong hands can be dangerous.

The function should be available to users very soon, at least according to Spotify as per Engadget.

Gaming, Lifestyle, News

Complete Your Gaming Set Up with ROG x IKEA

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ASUS’s Republic of Gamers (ROG) announced a partnership with IKEA to bring more gamer-centric furniture to complete your setup not too long ago. However, the partnership was exclusive to Taiwan and China until today. The ROG x IKEA gaming furniture is now available at IKEA outlets across Malaysia.

The collaboration comes in five new product ranges which IKEA dubs its gaming range: the UPPSPEL, LÅNESPELARE, MATCHSPEL, UTESPELARE and HUVUDSPELARE. The new product families have IKEA’s unique, minimalist approach with insights from ROG’s long relationship with gamers. The UPPSPEL, however, is a true co-developed product with ROG engineers working closely with IKEA product designers.

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The new gaming range focuses on bringing ergonomic comfort to gamers while they work to take out their challengers and best their opponents. Gamers can choose from a wide range of furniture which covers a wide range of price ranges. IKEA is offering a choice of three gaming chairs which range from MYR299 to MYR699. While the ROGxIKEA gaming desk, UPPSPEL, will set you back MYR2,499. Each piece of furniture is designed while taking into consideration the unique needs of a gamer. IKEA and ROG have put thought into everything from ergonomics to ventilation for your gaming setup.

The partnership doesn’t simply cover gaming furniture. You’ll also be able to get accessories such as a mouse bungee, headset stand and mug to complete your epic setup. The best part is these items are all priced below MYR80. If you’re not looking to get a completely new set-up, these additions should be more than welcome.

As part of their launch, ROG and IKEA have set up vignettes and showrooms with ROG gaming PCs in IKEA outlets across Malaysia. The gaming rigs in the stores feature some of the best components from ROG paired with Kingston’s performance RAM and storage. The rigs are available for you to experience at IKEA Damansara, Cheras, Terbrau and Batu Kawan.

For the complete lineup and prices, you can head on down the official ROG x IKEA webpage.

Lifestyle, News

Astro Moves To Become Your One Stop Entertainment Power House With New Packages and Partnerships

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Malaysia’s largest satellite TV provider, Astro, is undergoing a humungous change. It seems like their paradigm on entertainment is changing to be more embracing and forward-thinking. Only recently, the company announced that they will be changing their traditional decoders to the new Ulti Box and the Ultra Box; now Astro is taking a leap forward to turn their set-top box into a living room essential.

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Launch event Hosted by Astro

While they are still staying true to linear programming with the hundreds of channels already under their belt, Astro is also embracing partnerships with streaming platforms. We already saw the inklings of this with their partnership with Disney+ Hotstar. With their latest announcement, they are embracing even more platforms and giving one of the largest streaming platforms a home on their set-top box. Netflix will now be natively available on Ultra and Ulti boxes with a new software update. The new update is the first to bring native apps to Astro’s platform. They are teasing the availability of more native apps from their partners like iQIYI and Disney+ in the near future.

New Packs and Bundles with App

However, that is only the tip of the iceberg. Together with their big shift, Astro is also revamping their packages. Users don’t have to deal with the confusing mixing and matching that they once had to with Astro’s Superpacks. Instead, the company has revealed more streamlined packages which also include subscriptions to some of the most popular streaming apps.

At the top of the selections, Astro is introducing a new Platinum Pack which will include most of the linear channels available on Astro and subscriptions to Astro Go, Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar and HBO GO. The package is priced at MYR219.99. Additional charges apply for Asian Favourites which include Chinese, Indonesian and Indian channels at MYR14.99 for each sub-pack.

Flyer The All New Astro Experienceback
Source: Astro

Below this tier, there is the Entertainment Plus Pack which includes 110 channels covering Korean, Kids, Variety, Horror and Astro Go. It also includes access to Netflix. However, like the Platinum Pack, you will need to top up MYR14.99 for the Asian Favourites sub packs on top of the MYR144.99 cost of the Entertainment Plus Pack. In addition, you can add on other channels including your sports and movie channels for an additional fee starting at MYR14.99 monthly. The Entertainment Pack is a step below with 105 channels covering only the Variety and Kids sub packs without access to Netflix. This is priced at MYR104.99.

Astro’s barebones package is now the Primary Pack which comes with some 90 channels and access to Astro Go for MYR74.99 a month. They also have two combos with the movies and sports sub packs which cost MYR109.99 and MYR104.99 respectively.

Beware the Fineprint

It’s worth noting that aside from Disney+ Hotstar and HBO GO which comes bundled with the Movie Pack, complimentary access to Netflix is limited to the basic HD package of the streaming service. This limits your content to HD resolution with only 2 simultaneous connections. Upgrading to the premium package with Astro will be an addition MYR9.43. Access to the TVB Anywhere+ app is also linked to a subscription to the Chinese sub pack and is limited to HD resolution across 2 simultaneous devices. Access to the iQIYI VIP app is also available for Astro subscribers for an additional fee.

Launch Promos

Astro is having launch promos that bring up to MYR25 in discounts for monthly subscriptions.

The All New Astro Experience
Source: Astro

A New Satelite-less Experience

Astro wasn’t done with the announcements just yet. It also announced a new plug and play version of the Ultra and Ulti boxes. The new experience removes the need for Astro subscribers to have the now signature satellite dish on their homes. Instead, it will connect to the internet and allow users to have seamless, uninterrupted access to their content – rain or shine.

News, Social Media

YouTube Removes Public Dislike Count Visibility

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A big change is coming to YouTube – one that has seemingly broken the internet. The Google owned streaming platform has announced a change that may just change how we interact with videos on the platform. Starting 10 November 2021, the public dislike count will be going away. Yep- it looks like dislike bombing may not be a thing anymore. However, the dislike button is here to stay.

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Source: YouTube (Twitter)

YouTube is looking to make the platform a little less toxic and a little more empowering – particularly for new content creators. They highlight that they have realised over the past year that dislikes were essentially being weaponised by bad actors to bully and put down content creators. Swathes of users and bots would target dislike buttons not because of the content being put out; but rather due to the stances that creators take and, in other cases, simply because they don’t like the creator.

That said, the dislike button isn’t going anywhere. In fact, the number of dislikes isn’t going away either. It simply will not be shown publicly. Creators will still see the metric in their creator studio dashboard and analytics. However, YouTube believes that this will allow them to not feel publicly shamed when a piece of content doesn’t resonate or garners more dislikes than likes. In addition, the dislike button will also help optimise YouTube’s algorithm to surface more of the content that you like.

That said, the company is saying that they are staying true to their mission of giving everyone a voice with the change. They say the change will help empower more small creators and allow a healthy, continued discourse on their platform.

https://youtu.be/kxOuG8jMIgI
Computers, Lifestyle, News

Acer Brings the Aspire Vero to Malaysia

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We’ve been hearing and seeing more tech companies making strides to make technology greener and be more environmentally friendly. However, very few have followed through with grassroots efforts and tangible products which help them progress in their goals. At their recent next@acer, Acer announced a new sub-brand that would focus on driving their efforts in becoming a greener company – the Vero. The Acer Vero sub-brand is only one of their efforts in progressing what they call the Earthion (Earth Mission) of bettering the environment and producing technology more responsibly.

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Source: Acer

Acer announced its new Aspire Vero in Malaysia today. However, before we talk about the tech, it would be remiss of us to not highlight their efforts in bringing their Earthion closer to fruition in Malaysia. The company has adopted 15 trees in the Taman Tugu – a green lung in the nation’s capital. However, it’s not just about adopting trees, Acer is also bringing their partners and collaborators into the fold. Five of the company’s partners including PIKOM, Team Lugiami, Microsoft and the National Cancer Society of Malaysia have pledged their support for Acer’s Earthion.

Creating the Opportunity to Choose Responsible Technology

The company views the Aspire Vero as a crucial part of achieving its Earthion. The new laptop affords consumers a more responsible choice when it comes to buying laptops. The Aspire Vero incorporates post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics in its chassis and keycaps. In fact, the chassis is 30% PCR plastics while the keycaps are made of 50% PCR plastics. While it would have been nice to see Acer raise the bar higher, limitations on processes and technology when it comes to recycling these plastics force the company to still use virgin plastics for the sake of rigidity and sturdiness. However, Acer’s Aspire Vero accounts for a significant reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions during production. Each unit accounts for a 21% reduction. The packaging of the Acer Aspire Vero keeps in line with the environmentally cautious nature of the lineup being made of up to 85% recycled paper pulp and using soy ink exclusively for printing.

Aspire Vero AV15 51 03
Source: Acer

So, what does an environmentally cautious laptop look like? Acer has intentionally made the Acer Aspire Vero take a very nature-inspired approach to texture and design. It makes the Vero both unique and functional. What’s more, the laptop isn’t sacrificing much when it comes to performance. It comes with a 15.6-inch IPS Display with Full HD resolution. The panel itself is 99% recyclable. It’s powered by Intel’s 11th generation Core processors and has up to 16GB of RAM. It also takes advantage of Intel’s Iris Xe Graphics making it capable of some graphical prowess. It comes with 512GB of storage.

Aspire Vero AV15 51 04
Source: Acer

When it comes to connectivity, the Acer Aspire Vero comes with support for WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1. It also has a full array of ports including an HDMI, two USB 3.2 ports, 1 USB Type-C, an Ethernet port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It also has an HD webcam and a claimed 7-hour battery life.

Pricing & Availability

The Acer Aspire Vero will be available starting 11th November 2021. The i5 version will be priced at MYR3,399 while the i7 version will be priced at MYR4,299.

In conjunction with the launch, early adopters will be entitled to freebies worth up to MYR500 with every purchase. In addition, MYR100 of each unit sold will be chanelled to fund more tree adoptions in Taman Tugu.

eSports, News

Asian Games Gets More Interesting with Medalled eSport Events including PUBG Mobile & Hearthstone

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Big sporting events are about to get more interesting – particularly if you have an interest in eSports. It’s been a long time coming, but eSports is becoming more mainstream with the increasing number of events that are becoming recognised. A growing number of games are being included in large, global and regional sporting events. The Asian Games are the latest to join the foray.

eSports has long been sidelined by mainstream sports and athletics cause of their perceived lack of “training” and “athleticism”. But that’s been changing in recent years. With the establishment of international tournaments like “The International” (TI), The World Cyber Games (WCG) and the Electronic Sports League (ESL), there has been more awareness cultivated of how eSports athletes train and how intense and precise each match can be.

The industry has scored another big win with PUBG Mobile being recognised as a medalled event at the upcoming Asian Games. The event, held once every four years, is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the second largest event of its kind; only second to the Olympics itself. PUBG Mobile joins a list of elite games selected for the event.

PUBG Mobile Asian Games
Source: Tencent Games

PUBG Mobile has seen tremendous growth in the years since its launch. It has since spawned 14 new leagues and a cumulative prize pool of USD$15 million this year alone. It joins an exclusive list of games that have been recognised as medalled events for the upcoming Asian Games. As of now, the list consists of Arena of Valor Asian Games Version, DOTA 2, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, EA SPORTS FIFA branded soccer games, Hearthstone, League of Legends, and Street Fighter V.

The Asian Games will be taking place in Hangzhou, China from 10th to 25th September 2022. The upcoming games will mark the 19th Asian Games and the first to have eSports as recognised, medalled events.

Accessories, Mobile, News

JBL Celebrates 75 Years by Launching the Tour ONE and Tour Pro+ TWS Noise Cancelling Headphones

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Plenty of companies celebrate their significant milestone with special edition products. It is quite normal that you get an anniversary edition of things, especially in the world of gadgets. What do you mean why? You get anniversary version of cars, why not tech?

Not too many celebrate their major anniversary by launching a product though, JBL is one of those companies. This year JBL celebrates their 75th year in business. While they might not have existed quite as long as some audiophile brands, 75 years in the industry is a long time. This is also in consideration that some of the players in the audio industry have just started dabbling in high-end audio in the last five years or even less.

Of course, having 75 years of experience in the industry, JBL is one of the foremost brands in the audio industry. In fact, they make some of the best and most value-for-money production level gear. They really know a thing or two when it comes to making audiophile stuff then.

To celebrate their 75 years in the industry, they launched two new high-end noise-cancelling wireless headphones, very fitting. They launched one JBL Tour ONE and one JBL Tour Pro+ TWS in Malaysia. As per their name, they are part of JBL’s Tour series of audio gear.

JBL Tour ONE

  • JBL Tour ONE Image 1
    Source: JBL
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    Source: JBL
  • JBL Tour ONE Image 2
    Source: JBL

This one will set you back MYR 1,699, about the same as the Sony WH-1000XM4 currently. In that sense, it goes up against one of the best in the business. You are going to ask the question; “why should I get this one instead of the Sony?”

The JBL Tour ONE offers what JBL calls the True Adaptive Noise Cancellation technology. The headphone cleverly monitors environmental sounds and automatically determines the amount of noise cancellation that needs to be pumped into your ears. You can even turn on the feature even if your headphone was not connected to your smartphone device. They call the feature SilentNow and you can just turn off the world with the feature.

The JBL Tour ONE is not just a one trick pony though. The JBL Pro Sound tuned driver features HARMAN’s clever Smart Audio Mode that switches your headphone’s audio profile according to what you are using your headphone for. The system will optimise the connection for either “normal listening”, “music mode”, or “video mode”. In “music mode”, the headphones automatically increase the fidelity of music for your enjoyment. Obviously, latency suffers and therefore watching videos with it might be less than ideal. In “video mode” then, latency is prioritised and minimised.

Battery life is not bad too. You get up to 25 hours of battery life with Noise Cancelling function on. Without Noise Cancelling, you double the battery life. If you run out of battery, a 10-minute charge gives you up to two hours of playback time.

JBL Tour Pro+ TWS

  • JBL Tour Pro TWS Image 1
    Source: JBL
  • JBL Tour Pro TWS Image 2
    Source: JBL
  • JBL Tour Pro TWS Image 3
    Source: JBL

For a more active lifestyle, an over-ear headphone may not be the most suitable tool you want to carry in your gearbag. You need something light, something portable, and quick to deploy. You want the JBL Tour Pro+ TWS headphones.

True to its name, it is a compact true wireless earbuds package that fits in your pocket like it belongs there. The 6.9mm dynamic drivers ensures that the small package can deliver big sounds though. All of that while still offering up to 30 hours in playback time (up to 6 hours on a single charge with Active Noise Cancelling on, 8 hours without Noise Cancelling). When you run out, you can simply put it on a wireless charging pad and quickly charge it. Either that or plug a USB Type-C charging chord to it and get one hour of playback time in just 10 minutes.

The JBL Tour Pro+ TWS also comes with Adaptive Noise Cancelling technology that either cancels out noise completely or lets noise in to your ears when you need to stay aware of the situation around you. Of course, the 3-mic beamforming technology mics that are on the earbuds also acts as the microphones for voice calls or voice chats. At the same time, Dual Connect + Sync also allows you to choose whether or not you pick up your calls and play music with either side of your earbuds. Fast Pair allows your Android device to quickly connect to the TWS headphones with no fuss. Of course, it is IPX4 rated, so you can take it to the gym and it is ready for the weather at least.

Prices and Availability

Both the JBL Tour ONE and Tour Pro+ TWS are now available via JBL’s own online store and official retail partners including Shopee and Lazada. The JBL Tour ONE headphone will set you back MYR 1,699 as per mentioned. The JBL Tour Pro+ TWS on the other hand will set you back MYR 1,099. Unfortunately, unlike plenty of JBL’s products, there are no colour choices on this one. More information on the JBL Tour ONE and JBL Tour Pro+ TWS can be found on JBL’s website.

Accessories, News

The Beats Fit Pro Brings the Untz While You Workout

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It’s not every day you find an earphone with Apple’s H1 technology in it. The new Beats Fit Pro is one of the few that have adopted the technology. Of course, this comes as no surprise as Apple did purchase Beats back in 2014. The company has since continued its legacy of releasing audio accessories made for musicians.

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Source: Beats by Dre

The Beats Fit Pro is the latest pair of earbuds joining the new Beats lineup. It’s made for anyone with an active lifestyle. The earbuds have a winged design that Beats claims will help the earbuds stay in your ears securely. They are designed to provide extra support and security “even through the most rigorous workouts”. According to Beats, the wingtips have been designed after doing research and development on “thousands of ears”. The end result is a “perfect combination of soft, pliable material around a rigid core for a comfortable and stable fit on any ear shape or size.” The new true wireless earbuds come with IPX4 certification for dust and water resistance.

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It also comes with a new custom transducer which Beats claims will deliver robust sound even with its form factor. With Apple’s H1 chip at the core, the Beats Fit Pro comes with spatial audio compatibility. It’s able to support soundstages designed for 5.1, 7.1 and Dolby Atmos. It also comes with Active Noice Cancellation (ANC) which is enabled by two microphones. These microphones are continually measuring the ambient noise to ensure cancellation. In its press release, Beats claims that the technology in the Beats Fit Pro measures ambient noise up to 200 times per second.

GIF wingtip
Source: Beats by Dre

The Fit Pro comes with 6 hours of battery life with every charge. The casing gives it an additional 21 hours. It comes with a pocketable casing with USB-C for charging.

Pricing & Availability

The Beats Fit Pro is available for USD$199.99 (MYR827.01). You will be able to choose from four colours: Stone Purple, Sage Gray, White and Black.

Lifestyle, News

Xiaomi’s Dreame is Officially In Malaysia

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Xiaomi is no stranger when it comes to home technologies. The company has made waves with their IoT lineup. It has also been in the news for investing and developing brands that push not only IoT products but regular home products as well. Dreame is one of the few that focuses on delivering household solutions to users.

Dreame has long been available via online platforms, however, the brand is finally making its official debut in Malaysia. Partnering with their sole local distributor, Uniqbe Sdn Bhd, their offerings will now be available through the official Dreame store on Shopee.

Dreame H11 Series 002
Source: Dreame

The first product officially arriving in Malaysia is the Dreame H11 series vacuums. The Dreame H11 and H11 Max both come with a two-tank design that allows users to vacuum and mop simultaneously. The cordless vacuum system comes with a 900ml clean water tank and 500ml dirt water tank. This allows the vacuums to simultaneously suck and vacuum the floor. During use, cleaning solution and clean water are continually sprayed on the roller brushes from the clean water tank. While in use, the rollers are also cleaned as the dirt separation system removes the dirt from the rollers and deposits it into the 500ml dirt tank. The H11 series comes with up to 30 minutes of active use.

The Dreame H11 Max comes with an added auto mode that intelligently adjusts the suction power according to the clean up needed. Both the H11 and H11 Max come with an LED display screen and intelligent voice prompts which Dreame claims will help with cleaning.

Dreame H11 Series 003
Source: Dreame

The H11 and H11 Max will be available from their official store on Shopee. The H11 will be retailing at MYR1,999 while the H11 Max will be retailing for MYR2,499. In conjunction with their launch, they will be selling 50 units each of the H11 and H11 Max at MYR1,388 and MYR1,788 respectively.

In addition, Uniqbe Sdn Bhd is also partnering with Make-A-Wish Malaysia to help make Dreame’s launch more impactful. From now until Chinese New Year, the company will be earmarking 11% of sale from Dreame products for Make-A-Wish.