Nintendo has been really busy behind the scenes. The company has been in the news with rumours of a more powerful, OLED equipped Nintendo Switch. However, the company’s biggest news came earlier in the year with the announcement of new entries into the current generation of Pokémon games.
Fans of the series have been anticipating remakes of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl for while now given the company’s previous release trends. The Pokémon Company and Game Freak have been releasing remakes of their original games since the third generation of games with Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen in 2004. Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl feature updated graphics but continue to carry the charm of the original entries. Players are able to rediscover the Sinnoh region with details they’ve never seen before. The remake will be making its way to stores later this year on November 19, 2021.
The biggest announcement for the series since Pokémon Sword and Shield is the announcement of Pokémon Legends: Arceus. The game looks to be the series first foray into the open-world RPG arena. Players are taken back before the events of Diamond and Pearl to discover the Sinnoh region in a different time. The game throws players into the past before technology and all the wonders of the modern Pokémon world. Players will be exploring the region with three very different starters: Cyndaquill, Oshawott and Rowlet. If you’ve played or followed the series, you’ll realise that none of these starters is native to the Sinnoh region – or are they?
Unlike the remakes, there has been very little information revealing the events that will transpire in Legends: Arceus. However, after a taste of an open-world game in Sword and Shield’s “Wild Areas”, there are high expectations for Legends. With a Zelda: Breathe of the Wild aesthetic, the game is also one of the most beautiful games in the series so far. Pokémon Legends: Arceus is hitting shelves on January 28, 2022.
Blizzard Entertainment’s BlizzCon is arguably one of the biggest gaming conventions held every year. However, last year, BlizzCon joined the plethora of conventions and trade shows that opted to not have their physical event. It looks like this year is the same.
The Executive Producer if BlizzCon, Saralyn Smith, made the announcement on a post on the official BlizzCon website. The main reason for the cancellation? The pandemic. Smith noted that the evolving regulations and situations surrounding the current pandemic have cause significant setbacks due to uncertainties. In the events industry, the uncertainties can be the largest pain to deal with.
“Building an in-person BlizzCon is an epic and complex affair that takes many months of preparation—not just for us, but also for the many talented production partners, esports pros, hosts, entertainers, artists, and other collaborators we team up with locally and globally to put all of the pieces together. The ongoing complexities and uncertainties of the pandemic have impacted our ability to properly move forward on many of these fronts, and ultimately we’re now past the point where we’d be able to develop the kind of event we’d want to create for you in November.“
Saralyn Smith, Executive Producer of BlizzCon
However, the cancellation of BlizzCon 2021 isn’t as sombre as it may seem. It looks like the conference will be taking a form similar to BlizzConline which took place earlier this year. Saralyn Smith notes that the team is already at work planning for the event to take place early next year. She also noted that the team is exploring having smaller, more contained in-person gatherings in addition to the online press conferences and sessions that BlizzConline had this year.
It looks like the community has to wait a little longer for news on Blizzard’s IPs which include Diablo, StarCraft, WarCraft and Overwatch. This year’s BlizzCon was anticipated to have updates for Diablo IV, Diablo Immortal, Overwatch 2 among others. While we have about another 10 months to wait for updates, Diablo fans have Diablo 2 Resurrected to look forward to this year.
Google I/O happened last week and there was a lot to take in and dissect even from the two-hour long keynote to kick the Google’s 2021 developers conference off. We highlighted our favourite moments and things that we learned from Google I/O 2021. What caught our attention this year was their WearOS partnership with Samsung announcement. Android 12 is getting a huge visual revamp too this year. At the end of the show, something else caught our attention, and that was the Project Starline.
Google’s Wear OS is about to get a revamp and overhaul thanks to their new formed partnership with Samsung. This also means that Samsung will be ditching their Tizen OS development and focus on developing Wear OS with Google. Funnily enough Fitbit is not really getting involved. While they spent a very small amount of time making the announcement, there is more to Wear OS and Samsung’s involvement than Google made it out to be though. Fitbit is also not entirely out of the picture at this point.
We also saw the new Android 12 with Material You design language. The UI is cleaner, more intuitive, and even more customisable now. It is technically more YOU, more personal. You can change your theme colours to fit YOU. You can tune certain UI features to YOU. It is even more personal too with a Privacy Dashboard. You can even turn off your camera and mic completely if you want to; even your camera app will not be able to access both functions.
Project Starline was amazing. In brought to life a concept that we though will never see the light of day until way later. The whole pandemic situation has isolated us even more, and with conditions expected to take a turn for the worse in the coming year, physical connection to other human beings is sorely missed. Project Starline is as close as you can get to a physical touch and interaction to others at this point of time. To be fair, the technology is still in its early development stage and brings 3D and holographic telecommunications to life. It was encouraging and exciting to see, but we wonder how practical it would be if you want to bring that kind of technology to your homes or offices.
Just about a month after Apple releases the biggest update to iOS in recent history, Apple releases yet another update to the platform alongside their other products like the iPad, mac OS, watch OS, and even tvOS. To be fair, tvOS 14.6 is a minor update that is supposed to improve the general stability and performance of the interface for Apple TV devices. That is at least according to their release notes for the tvOS 14.6. For everything else, the updates are more than just bug fixes despite what the numbers suggest.
iOS 14.6 & iPadOS
iOS 14.6 is not as big as 14.5 in terms of updates. It is also partly a bug fix that fixes issues found on iOS 14.5 such as issues with unlocking your iPhone via your Apple Watch. Some users were reporting that reminders show up as blank lines now even when they have keyed in their information. The new update on both iOS and iPadOS should also improve Bluetooth connections with Bluetooth enabled hardware. Users should also see improvements in device performance with the update.
There are some added features too on iOS 14.6 and iPadOS 14.6. While fixing some early issues with AirTag, the UI now allows users to use their email address for tracking purposes instead of phone numbers. There are added support in Apple Podcast too allowing users on iOS and iPadOS to opt for subscriptions to shows and get extra exclusive contents. There is an added Apple Card support too in the sense that you can now share your Apple Card with up to five members of your family via Apple Card Family. The new function also allows you to keep track of expenses and manage limits. Users can also now unlock their iPhone or iPad for the first time after a restart via their voice.
iOS 14.6 is now available for Apple iPhone 6s and newer. iPadOS 14.6 is also now available for iPad Air 2 and later, 5th Generation Apple iPad and later, iPad Mini 4 and newer, and the 7th generation iPod Touch.
watchOS 7.5
Apple’s WatchOS 7.5 received a minor update when Apple released iOS 14.5 too. That minor update that updated WatchOS devices from Apple Watch Series 3 and later to WatchOS 7.4.1 was mostly a security update for the Watch. WatchOS 7.5, in contrast to the iOS and iPadOS updates is more of a feature update.
The Apple WatchOS 7.5 now allows access to subscribed content in the Podcast app for one. You can even manage and track your Apple Card expenses from your Apple Watch. Malaysia is getting some added love in the new WatchOS 7.5 too. Apple Watch Series 4 and later will get ECG app support now in Malaysia. Users of Apple Watch in Malaysia will also now get support for irregular heart rhythm notifications.
The Apple WatchOS 7.5 is now available for Apple Watch Series 3 and later.
macOS Big Sur 11.4
The new macOS Big Sur 11.4 update is also one of Apple’s largest since 11.3 just about a month ago. The update for macOS is more bug fixing than anything else. The new update fixes keyword exclusions when exporting photos from the Photos app. It also fixes certain website viewing issues with Mac devices. It also fixes certain stability issues with PDF documents on macOS 11.3.
On top of the bug fixes, macOS Big Sur 11.4 brings paid subscriptions to Apple Podcast app. You can now pay subscriptions for Podcasts within the ecosystem and get exclusive contents or early access to additional contents from creators. Apple Podcast also introduces channels to group shows from podcast creators.
macOS Big Sur 11.4 is now available on devices running on mac OS Big Sur 11.
Qualcomm is expanding its horizons with a new take on their Snapdragon 7c Compute Platform. The company started looking into mobile compute back in 2017 and introduced their first generation 7c back in 2019. Slightly over a year after, the company is bringing a new, improved take meant for an always connected future.
The new generation Snapdragon 7c compute platform takes aim at an emerging need for always connected PCs at an affordable price point. The new generation comes with the Snapdragon X15 4G LTE modem which provides on-the-go connectivity; allowing devices that come with the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 to switch seamlessly between WiFi and cellular networks. Qualcomm is looking to address the growing need for reliable, stable connections in the age of Work from Anywhere.
Source: Qualcomm
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c compute platform brings together performance, battery life and connectivity. It comes with an Octa-core Kryo 468 CPU which can be run at speeds of up to 2.55GHz providing enough compute for on-the-go work. Similar to its mobile counterparts, the compute platform comes with an Adreno GPU which supports QHD resolution at 60Hz. It also utilizes the Qualcomm Spectra 255 image signal processor which supports up to 14-bit image signal processing. The package, overall, should rival some of the entry level and lower mid range laptops we see in the market.
Affordable Performance for Entry Level Systems
Qualcomm isn’t just building the compute platform for performance, it’s looking at bringing value to a more affordable segment of laptops. To that end, they have been developing the 7c compute platform to bring performance which lasts. They are touting that the Snapdragon 7c is able to provide performance and multiday battery life. The new generation of the compute platform is built with up to 60% more productivity performance per watt compared to currently available laptops. However, they are also making things more affordable with a lower entry level when it comes to pricing. The 7c platform costs about one third of the currently available premium x86 systems.
Source: Qualcomm
The Snapdragon 7c compute platform isn’t just about the silicon either. Qualcomm is baking in AI features which help with on-the-go working. Their Hexagon 629 DSP in the 7c is able to handle over 5 trillion operations a second with its built-in AI engine. This AI enhances device security and even powers more accurate voice recognition and even features like gaze correction for video conferencing.
Working with OEMs for a Diverse Device Ecosystem
The emergence of Work from Anywhere and its acceleration in the midst of the current pandemic has necessitated Qualcomm and its partners to develop unique solutions. Qualcomm has been working with companies like Acer, ASUS, Lenovo and Samsung to create sturdy, affordable and powerful laptops built on the compute platform. This time, the company is working with manufacturers and even software companies for a more complete and optimised experience on the Snapdragon 7c Compute platform.
Manufacturers like Lenovo, HP and Acer are working on creating on-the-go work systems which take advantage of the compute system. They have Windows 10 laptops running on the 7c. Qualcomm has also been working to optimise the platform to better support all versions of Windows 10 for a better user experience.
That said, Windows isn’t the only operating system that Qualcomm is optimising the Snapdragon 7c for either. The company is also working with companies like Acer and ASUS to cultivate a Chrome OS ecosystem. Systems like the Acer Spin 513 Chromebook are already making their way to the market.
It’s been quite a journey for Honor in its recent emancipation from Huawei. However, it looks like the emancipation is coming with significant benefits. If you need a little refresher, Honor started off as a subsidiary brand of Huawei to address the growing Millennial and Gen-Z segment who were looking for affordable, power-packed devices. Honor had a big European debut with one of their first ambassadors being Brooklyn Beckham, son of Football Star, David Beckham and Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham. However, with the sanctions from the U.S. on Huawei, the brand began to ship their devices without Google Play Services and with Huawei’s AppGallery.
Earlier this year, the brand was spun off into its own company and it looks like that has been a boon to it. In a tweet from the Official Honor Germany account the brand confirmed that their latest flagship, the Honor 50 will be coming with Google Play Services. (The tweets have since been deleted.) This is a big win for the brand as we’re beginning to see Huawei slip from the top of the list of smartphone vendors. Most recently, the company noted a 41% year on year decline in smartphone shipments.
Source: Android Authority
Source: Android Authority
That said, with the sale of Honor to a Chinese consortium of companies, Honor is seeing positive momentum. In fact, the company has confirmed that their upcoming Honor 50 will be coming with the recently announced, Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G. The partnership wasn’t possible under Huawei due to the U.S. sanctions. In addition to this, the company has also revealed that an upcoming Honor Magic device will be coming with the “most premium Qualcomm chipset”. The current SoC which fits that description is the Snapdragon 888 unless Qualcomm has another chipset up its sleeves.
The last Honor Magic device was released way back in 2018. The line up is being reintroduced as part of the new portfolio. Previously, the Magic line up was Honor’s most premium line up with power-packed specifications and top of the line features. It looks like that isn’t changing with the company touting the upcoming device as a “premium flagship product featuring superb imaging quality”.
Last year Samsung launched something of a game changer, in our opinion. It has nothing to do with gaming, or entertainment, to be fair. It has more to do with work than anything else.
In November of 2020, Samsung introduced the world to their first ever desktop monitor that is also outfitted with Tizen OS. Effectively also, the particular monitor is Samsung’s first smart monitor. They introduced the world to what is effectively a 4K smart TV in a 32-inch desktop monitor form factor. They called it the Samsung Smart Monitor M7. They also introduced two Full HD variants called the M5 series.
To be fair, there is not that much in terms of choice with Samsung’s Smart Monitors at launch. You get to choose between two sizes for the Full HD variant and no choice at all if you want the 4K UHD variant. That has changed this year though.
Samsung Smart Monitor M7 43-inch
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Samsung has just introduced a 43-inch variant of the 4K UHD M7 series Smart Monitor and 24-inch variant of the Full HD M5 series Smart Monitor for 2021. On top of that, they are also introducing a new white colour option for the existing M7 and M5 models. Now you can really spice up your workspace at home.
The 43-inch Smart Monitor M7 (43M70A) is technically similar to the 32-inch model. It features a 4K UHD resolution for starters. It also supports HDR10, not exactly HDR10+ of their high-end TVs to be fair, but good enough for you to enjoy a variety of contents. Like the 32-inch variant, the 43-inch M7 is also a VA panel desktop monitor, which also means you are not necessarily getting a premium OLED experience.
Still, VA panels are bright and vibrant enough for a high colour accuracy, especially for making quick work of simple video and photo editing work. While it only boasts 60Hz in refresh rate, that is good enough for something like a PS4 Pro. Even the new gaming consoles can easily take advantage of the 4K resolution.
Samsung Smart Monitor M5 24-inch
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
On the smaller scale end, the M5 now comes in a 24-inch variant (24M50A). Unlike the 4K UHD 43-incher it launches with, you get an IPS panel with the 24-incher though. Even its bigger 27-inch and 32-inch M5 siblings are fitted with VA display panels. That also means that the Full HD 1080p panel should display images with great colour contrast and highly accurate colours. It is also an HDR10 display to ensure you get the best out of Tizen OS. It only refreshes at 60hz though. Then again, it is not a gaming monitor.
The new Smart Monitors M7 and M5 both are Wireless DeX enabled too. That also means that if you have modern Samsung Galaxy device with wireless DeX enabled, you do not even need to get extra cable to connect to the display. You do not even need to get your PC to connect to your smartphone for it. The Tizen OS fitted monitors are also Apple AirPlay 2 enabled, so even if you are on an iOS device, it will work for you too.
Like a Smaller, More Productive Smart TV
Samsung’s Smart Monitor M7 and M5 also comes with a modern SolarCell solar powered remote. The smart remote is very much like your Samsung Smart TV remotes and functions with Voice command like one too. Additionally, you do not have to replace any batteries, just leave it under the sun near the window to keep it charged.
Tizen OS also means that you get access to Netflix, Prime Video, and the upcoming Disney+ app without even needing to connect to a PC, or smartphone. In that case, your enjoyment is also not limited to your supporting hardware. With TV Plus, you get access to selected live and on-demand contents for free. This technically can be your TV if you have limited space.
You can plug your PC in via USB Type-C Thunderbolt connection (43M70A). If not, you have the benefit of HDMI 2.0. DisplayPort is not technically necessary for this display. The 43-inch monitor can also double as your USB hub as well with 3 additional USB ports. The 24-inch has one additional USB port for an added working flexibility.
What makes the Samsung Smart Monitor M7 and M5 though is the fact that you can work with Microsoft 365’s PC on screen. It is technically a remote PC technology that allows you to access your Microsoft 365 suite from the display, even if your PC is not necessarily plugged into your monitor. All you need is a Microsoft 365 account and internet connection.
Price and Availability
The Samsung Smart Monitor M7 and M5 is already available in select regions. Malaysia is not part of those select regions though. Currently, the 32-inch M7, 32-inch M5, and 27-inch M5 are available in Malaysia from MYR 1,188 (RRP) onward. For more information for the newly released Samsung Smart Monitor M7 and M5, do head over to Samsung’s website.
In 2014, a little-known upcoming brand from China took to Malaysia by storm. Xiaomi launched their flagship class Xiaomi Mi 3 at the time and started their sale campaign in Malaysia in a way familiar to Malaysians but has yet to become a norm. They sold their highly anticipated smartphone online and sold out in minutes.
The plucky little brand has grown from strength to strength in the years it has existed. It has grown from a little company that makes affordable premium smartphones to a company that builds an ecosystem of smart products for a modern home. They have grown from making tiny devices that you put in your pockets to making electric scooters even.
Last night sees another one of Xiaomi more premium products making it into the Malaysian home appliance market. It is a big one too. Xiaomi introduced the Mi TV P1 and Mi TV Q1 to Malaysians.
Mi TV P1
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
The Mi TV P1, while boasting up to 4K UHD in resolution, is listed under Xiaomi’s more accessible offering in high-resolution entertainment. Understandably then you get a Full HD 32-inch option for the Mi TV P1 series. All of them still come with Android TV as standard though.
Despite being the more accessible series in the Mi TV family, the 55-inch variant gets HDR10+ on top of its 4K UHD resolution for even better colour reproduction. The added dynamic range also adds a sense of realism on the picture itself. Dolby Vision on the 55-inch also helps with more immersion as you watch Dolby Vision certified movies from the likes of Netflix.
You only get 60Hz from the LED panel. With MEMC motion smoothing technology though you are like to get a tear-free, lag-free, and smooth picture experience. Thanks to Android TV as well, you not only get to enjoy services like Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Spotify, and Tidal. You get to work with Chromecast built directly into the TV. You get the benefit of Google Assistant too, with the embedded mic on the TV you might not even have to reach out to your remote control.
Mi TV Q1
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
If you are looking for something more premium without breaking your bank, Xiaomi has the Mi TV Q1. The Mi TV Q1, at 75-inch, not only allow you to have a true large-screen experience. It also boasts QLED panels, the same one you find on Samsung’s premium TV line-up.
The 4K QLED TV packs a lot of punch in terms of colours with 100% NTSC colour range at 1.07 billion colours on tap to give you the best image quality with the smoothest colour gradients possible. With 192 zones of full-array dynamic local dimming, colour bleeding and fringing is kept to a minimum, almost not existent with superb contrasts.
Of course, the 75-incher supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+, it is a Samsung QLED panel after all. On top of that though the QLED TV boasts up to 120Hz and HDMI 2.1 with Auto Low Latency Mode. Those also means that the Mi TV Q1 is ready for the next-generation gaming consoles. If you really want, plug in a gaming PC and watch your fps go crazy too.
Great pictures have to be coupled with great audio to really immerse in. The Xiaomi Mi TV Q1’s stereo speakers pack a lot of punch at 30W. The stereo set-up is made up of two tweeters and four woofers for a balanced and clear audio reproduction. The speaker set-up also supports Dolby Audio and DTS-HD for the best audio experience in its class.
The Xiaomi MI TV Q1 comes with Android TV. That also means, like the Mi TV P1, the Mi TV Q1 works nicely with Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Tidal, and Spotify. There are dedicated Amazon Prime Video and Netflix buttons on the remote. But you can easily launch all these apps via voice command anyway.
Price and Availability
The Xiaomi Mi TV P1 (43-inch, 55-inch) will be available for pre-order from 6th June 2021 onward for MYR 1,499 onward. It will retail for MYR 1,799 onward after pre-order period. The 32-inch variant will be available for pre-order from 6th June 2021 as well at MYR 899 (retail MYR 999). The new TV will be available online via Shopee and Lazada, and offline via authorised retailers, Senheng, and official Mi Stores across Malaysia.
The Xiaomi Mi TV Q1 will be available for pre-order from 6th June 2021 onward at MYR 7,999. The premium Mi TV will be available online via Lazada and offline via Senheng, authorised retailers and official Mi Stores across Malaysia. For a limited time and subject to stock availability, every purchase of the Xiaomi Mi TV Q1 will include Xiaomi’s exclusive gift pack worth MYR 1,765. The gift pack comprises the Mi Air Purifier Pro H, Mi Vacuum Cleaner Mini, Mi 360o Home Security Camera 2K, Mi Body Composition Scale 2, and Mi Wi-Fi Range Extender Pro. For more information on Xiaomi’s Mi TV P1 and Mi TV Q1, you can head out to Xiaomi’s website.
Android is currently the most popular mobile operating system (OS) in the world. At least 72% of the entire smartphone market in 2021 runs on Android. That is also mostly because there are so many Android offerings out in the market that fits almost all sorts of budget.
There is also another good reason why Android becomes the OS of choice for plenty of enthusiasts. The fact that no two Android devices looks and feels the same is one of them. You could put a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra beside another similar device with similar colour option but when you pick them up, they could feel completely different in terms of its interactions and layout. If you are its owner, you know which one of the smartphones is which the moment you pick it up. Of course, there is the fact that you cannot unlock the other smartphone.
Android 12 is not the largest update in terms of added feature on the user interface (UI), technically. It is the largest though in terms of visuals. The concept for the 12th major iteration of Android, as Google puts it, centers around You.
They call the new design language Material You. That also means that the design language is not entirely different from before. It is technically an evolution of the older Material design language. Thing is, it is not like the old Material design felt dated in 2021. Its simplistic and minimalistic language still does well enough in 2021, and we think beyond.
Still, Android 12 is coming and here are the major changes we think you might like; at least we like the changes.
More Personalisation
Source: Google
Colours turn out to be everything in our lives, and that includes our smartphones. We all wanted dark mode at some point in the past two years. Admittedly, Dark Mode looks sick and made our smartphones look extra sleek. But it does get a little boring when everyone starts doing the same things.
Adding some colours is a way to go to make your device even more unique to you other than having different home screen layouts. That is what Android 12 is, colours for your life. The UI can cleverly extract dominant colours and determine complementing colours from your wallpaper and turn your whole theme around that chosen colour. That extends even to the new widgets Material You is introducing. Of course, you can change those colours as well in the settings, if you want to have a different colour scheme for your theme. You technically can decide how thick you want your on-screen volume control knob to be too.
Better, Faster, More Sensible Animations
Source: Google
The UI is designed to be more intuitive and allow certain things to come up front and center for you. For example, picking up the device can turn your screen on, but the fluid animations can flash up according to how you pick up your device. The display might come to life from the bottom of the device up, or vice versa. It responds to touch and gestures too, apparently.
The most visible change on Android 12 in terms of animations though is on your lock screen. On Any Android device, you can view your notifications via your lock screen. You can close the notifications from your lock screen too. Once you cleared out your notifications though, Android 12 brings out your clock front and center to let you know that you are all caught up and tell you the time, obviously.
With Material You as well, Google have supposedly improved animation load times and speed by up to 22%. The development team somehow found a way to cut back on CPU loads for animations which both sped up the animations and extend battery life in the process. On top of that, the cut back in CPU reliance also means that older and lower-end devices can benefit the full animations of Android 12.
Bigger Means Better
Source: Google
A part of system designs in Material design is making things more compact, cleaner, simpler, and more minimalistic. A lof of quick access spaces and buttons are made smaller, more rounded, and take up so little space you could cram a million of them on your large 6-inch display. They sort of rolled back on that for the sack of intuitiveness and better-looking spaces though.
In Material You the notification is a much cleaner space to look at. Gone re the clutter that you might see in the current iteration of Material design. The notification page is much easier on the eyes to navigate and work with as well with a slightly larger interaction space.
You see the biggest change in Quick Settings though. Instead of little round balls that you are used to, they are now bigger buttons to work with. This not only prevents clutter, but also wrong presses when you use your device one-handed. The have added Google Pay and Home Controls button too for you to quickly access your ewallet payment gateway and even quickly control your Home IoT devices just through a couple of taps.
Privacy Dashboard
Source: Google
Transparency over data collection and sharing has been one of the most important features we look for in our smartphones today. Apple’s iOS now allows you to track each app and what they do with your data. For Android, it is a little different.
Instead of implementing app specific algorithm to identify what data is being used by each app and how, Android 12 gives you a one stop shop to understand what apps are using what and when. The dashboard allows to check also the kinds of permissions you give each app. You even can revoke access of the apps too from one Privacy Dashboard.
At the same time, Android 12 tells you when an app is using your camera or microphone. In some ways, Android 12 can help you track which apps use the two items when it does not need to as well. You can either revoke camera or mic privileges from apps via Privacy Dashboard in that sense.
There is more to that, however. You can revoke the entire systems access to both microphone and camera. All you have to do is pull down the notification bar, and then pull down again to quick access and turn off camera, or microphone access, or both. In that case, even if you launch your camera app, you are not going to see anything.
Regarding location, sometimes apps do not need to know where you are precisely. In that case, Android 12 allows you to set “approximate location” sharing with some of the apps that you feel might not need your precise location. An example of that kind of app is the weather app, to tell you what the weather is like in your general area.
And More…
Source: Google
There are more subtle changes in Android 12. To be really honest, we have not had our hands-on with the Android 12 Beta just yet, because we do not own devices that supports Android 12 Beta at this time. We are hoping that the list might expand a little more soon though. If you want to get your hands on Android 12 Beta, you can check if your devices are supported at the Android 12 Beta page.
Acer is refreshing its TravelMate P4 and Concept D laptops with more power with Intel’s new generation of processors. The new refresh brings more powerful processors with more power and Intel’s Xe graphics. It brings more graphics prowess to the line up which caters for creators and on the go workers.
Acer’s TravelMate line up brings durability and productivity in one package. The new TravelMate Spin P4 adds the flexibility of working from anywhere with the MIL-STD-810G durability, You won’t need to worry about dropping your laptop or even spilling water on it. The TravelMate Spin P4 also brings the flexibility to work in a multiple modes with its ability to transform from laptop to tablet. You can even present on the fly with the Spin P4’s tent mode.
Running on the latest generation of Intel Core i7 processors, the laptop is built for remote workers. The Acer TravelMate P4 is touted to have up to 13.5 hours of battery life. It also comes with high speed USB type C ports as well as support for DisplayPort. It also features security features that will help protect your data such as TPM (Trusted Platform Module) 2.0 hard drive protection.
Creative Flexibility and Power with ConceptD
Acer continues to iterate its ConceptD line up with features and specifications catered towards designers. The new line up of ConceptD laptops bring top of the line performance with added flexibility and freedom thanks to the expansion of the Ezel line up. In addition, creatives can express themselves freely with the touch enabled display which supports Acer’s Active Stylus. The stylus supports 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity providing a more realistic feel when illustrating.
The new ConceptD 7 series comes power packed with the absolute latest in specifications. It has processors ranging from the 10th generation Intel Core i7 to the Intel Xeon processor to handle anything you throw at it. Need to render a large 3D graphic? It shouldn’t be a problem with the NVIDIA Quadro RTX3000 and RTX 5000 options which come with the ConceptD 7 series. The ConceptD 7 Pro also comes with the Ezel variant which brings the flexibility of a multimode workflow. It also allows users to draw and illustrate at an angle that is comfortable to them.
Of course, not all of us need unbridled power. If the ConceptD 7 series is a little too powerful, the ConceptD 3 series should hit the right balance. Coming with the 10th generation Intel Core i7 and the a choice between the NVIDIA Quadro T1000 or the NVIDIA GeForce GTX1650Ti, the ConceptD 3 series isn’t a slouch either. It also comes with an Ezel version similar to the ConceptD 7.
Both the ConceptD 3 and 7 series come with colour accurate, 15.6-inch IPS displays with a ΔE value of less than 2. The former comes with Full HD resolution while the latter comes with UHD resolution. They support the latest WiFi 6 standard, Bluetooth 5.0 and have a full array of ports including support for DisplayPort over USB. The ConceptD 7 series supports Thunderbolt 3.
Pricing & Availability
The Acer TravelMate Spin P4 is available for purchase from all Acer official stores and authorized dealers. It will be retailing for MYR4,699 for the version with the Intel Core i5 and MYR5,399 for the version with the Intel Core i7.
The ConceptD 7 series will be available from the Acer e-store and will retail for MYR13,099 for the Core i7 and NVIDIA Quadro RTX3000. The ConceptD 7 Ezel Pro with a more colour accurate display with 100% coverage of the Adobe RGB and sRGB gamuts will retail for MYR17,099 while the ConceptD 7 Ezel Pro with the Intel Xeon and Quadro RTX5000 will retail for MYR26,099.
The ConceptD 3 which comes equipped with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX1650 Ti will be retailing at MYR7,399. The ConceptD 3 Pro with the NVIDIA Quadro T1000 will retail for MYR8,399 while the ConceptD 3 Ezel Pro will be retailing for MYR10,099. The line up will be available at select Acer Resellers.
