Category Archives: News

Computers, Gaming, Lifestyle, News

ASUS ROG 2021 Notebook Series Ups the Ante with RTX 30 Series

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Last year NVIDIA announced their next generation GPUs, the GeForce RTX 30 series GPUs that they claim to have the largest generational gap over the older series. It is inevitable then for fans to be asking for the mobile variant of the GPUs to be put in the ever popular and growing gaming notebook market. They are also asking for more budget friendly variants like the RTX 3060 Ti and updated variant of the GTX 1650 and GTX 1660 Ti.

That is not all though, new CPUs are also introduced in 2020 and early 2021. AMD came swinging hard with the new AMD Ryzen 5000 series CPUs with Zen 3 architecture making them the most powerful consumer level CPU overall currently on sale. Intel pushed their own boundaries with their 10nm architecture 11th Generation CPUs early in 2021 too. To be fair though Intel came with the mobile variant of the 11th Generation Core processors early in 2020 before the desktop variants were introduced in 2021.

TUF Gaming F15 and F17 (FX506H-CHN021T, FX706H-CHX065T, FX506H-MHN103T)

  • Source: ASUS
  • Source: ASUS
  • Source: ASUS
  • Source: ASUS

ASUS kicks of with the new TUF Gaming notebooks, both in 15-inch and 17-inch flavours. You get to choose between an Intel Core i5-11400H and an Intel Core i7-11800H for the ASUS TUF Gaming F15’s (FX506H) processor. That powerful GPU also comes paired with either an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 or an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU with 6GB of GDDR6 RAM.

To ensure that you get a smooth gaming performance too, RAM is at up to 16GB for the top-of-the-line TUF Gaming F15 with room to spare. For storage you get a single SSD with 512GB in capacity. The storage is also expandable still with free extra NVMe PCIe 3.0 M.2 slot.

The 15-inch and 17-inch variants both get a 144Hz IPS display that pushes Full HD in resolution. For even more immersive gaming, the TUF Gaming F15 and F17 packs DTS Audio and speaker calibration. Of course, a great gaming experience today also means stable internet connection, and the ASUS TUF Gaming F15 and F17 packs WiFi 6 capabilities alongside Bluetooth 5.2 for extra stable wireless peripheral connection. With 90WHrs 4-cell battery, the TUF Gaming F15 and F17 may not last a whole day, but at least a few hours of use away from the wall socket should be enough for you to get your emails and whatever else done.

The ASUS TUF Gaming F15 with 11th Generation Intel Core i5 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 will be available mid of June 2021 onward at MYR 4,199. The TUF Gaming F17 with 11th Generation Intel Core i5 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 will be available at the end of June 2021 at MYR 4,299. The TUF Gaming F15 with 11th Generation Intel Core i7 with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 will be available at the end of this month (May 2021) onward at MYR 5,599.

TUF Gaming Dash F15 (FX516P-EHN006T, FX516P-EHN007T)

  • Source: ASUS
  • Source: ASUS
  • Source: ASUS

For extra portability, you might want to look at the ASUS TUF Gaming Dash F15, a thinner and lighter TUF gaming notebook like no other. At 2kg, it is no ultrabook. Still, it is a light gaming device with the power to match.

You get the 11th Generation Core i7-11370H processor that also has an Intel Iris Xe Graphics integrated GPU for general usage at lower power draw. For all the high-performance stuff though, this thing packs a powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU. Thanks to the integrated GPU, the notebook draws minimal power from the 76WHrs battery and ensures that the notebook can last longer than your average gaming notebooks.

The powerful NVIDIA GPU though powers the 15.6-inch IPS display to push Full HD into your face. You even get fast 144Hz refresh rate to ensure you still have the necessary competitive advantage in any gaming situation. With up to 8GB of RAM, you can be sure that gaming is a smooth and snappy experience.

The ASUS TUF Gaming Dash F15 will be available in two colour options – Eclipse Grey and Moonlight White. The new gaming laptop will be available this month (May 2021) onward. The thinner and lighter TUF Gaming notebook will set you back MYR 4,799.

ASUS ROG Strix G15 and G17 (G513Q-CHN019T, G512Q-CHN020T, G712Q-CHX022T, G512Q-CHN096T)

  • Source: ASUS
  • Source: ASUS
  • Source: ASUS
  • Source: ASUS
  • Source: ASUS

The new ASUS ROG STRIX G15 and G17 packs up to the highly acclaimed AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor. With AMD’s processor, the ROG STRIX G15 and G17 is also a powerful creator class GPU. Pair that with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 and you get a capable video editor and gaming notebook that you can take with you anywhere you want.

You get up to 8GB in RAM and up to 512GB in SSD storage. If those are not enough though there is an extra available slot for you to expand your RAM and SSD storage still. An extra 8GB and an extra 512GB of SSD storage would do you nicely for the ASUS ROG STRIX G15 and G17.

You get to choose up between 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch display sizes for the new ASUS ROG STRIX series. Both sizes are IPS displays that churns out Full HD in resolution too. Of course, for the extra smooth feel and edge in competitive gaming, the displays refreshes at 144Hz.

For all your connectivity needs there is the usual WiFi 6 that should be standard today. It also packs Bluetooth 5.1 for an extra stable wireless peripherals experience. You can find a USB Type-C port, but unfortunately Thunderbolt is not supported on the AMD based notebook.

The ROG STRIX G15 and G17 notebooks with either an AMD Ryzen 5-5600H or the AMD Ryzen 7-5800H will be available this month (May 2021) onward. The AMD Ryzen 5 variant of the ASUS ROG STRIX G15 will set you back MYR 4,199. The AMD Ryzen 7 variant of the ASUS ROG STRIX G15 and G17 will sell for MYR 4,499 and MYR 4,599 respectively. There is also an Elctro Punk special edition ASUS ROG STRIX G15 with AMD Ryzen 7-5800H that comes with its own set of colour matching accessories like a mousepad, a gaming mouse, and a backpack for MYR 4,799.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (GA401Q-HHZ078TS, GA401Q-CHZ083TS, GA401Q-EK2023TS)

Source: ASUS

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14, in our books, is one of the notebooks that put AMD’s Ryzen processors name in the gaming laptop map. The first Zephyrus G14 was a brilliant product that received many accolades. That packed the older generation AMD Ryzen 3000 series mind you.

The new one of course packs the new AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS processor to boot. You get to work with up to NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU for all of your gaming and content creation needs. Both the CPU and GPU are supported by an 8GB RAM that you can easily expand with an extra RAM slot in the thin and sturdy body with the very recognisable Matrix LED shell. Storage wise, you get 512GB in SSD with an extra expansion slot too.

The powerful CPU and GPU combination pushes games to up to 144Hz (120Hz for WQHD variant) on the 14-inch IPS display that comes with the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14. You get to spec your Zephyrus G14 with up to WQHD display too if you need the extra resolution for content creation purposes. On both the Full HD and WQHD displays, you get 100% coverage of DCI-P3 for a super deep colour accuracy and Pantone validation as the cherry topping.

  • Source: ASUS
  • Source: ASUS
  • Source: ASUS
  • Source: ASUS
  • Source: ASUS
  • Source: ASUS

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 will be available in Eclipse Grey and Moonlight variants. The ROG Zephyrus G14 with NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 1650 GPU will come with a non AniMe Matrix shell while the rest of the variants get the AniMe Matrix panel on the shell of the notebook for extra personalisation. The new AMD Ryzen 7 powered ROG Zephyrus G14 notebook is available this month (May 2021) onward and will start at MYR 4,799 and tops out MYR 6,499.

Consumer Electronics, Lifestyle, News

Sony Launches New BRAVIA XR 4K TVs with “Cognitive Processor XR”

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When someone asks us what TV they should buy for their homes, we always go back to Sony. We are big fans of Sony’s TV line-up and that is no secret too. We do think that they have been consistently making great TVs for a long time now. When you get a Sony TV as well, you get a sort of assurance that it will at least work properly with your Sony PlayStation 5; they are made by the same manufacturer, after all.

The BRAVIA series from Sony has also proven itself to be some of the best TVs in the world. While some of their TVs are based on older LED technology, the BRAVIA TVs still offer one of the best, if not the best, image contrasts and colour accurate images in the industry. Comparatively as well, BRAVIA TVs are more reasonably priced than some of its competitors.

Sony has just announced a new BRAVIA series with a very small difference that makes a lot of difference in how you experience TV in 2021. They have introduced the BRAVIA XR with a new processor, the Cognitive Processor XR. Yes, it is just a new processor to the TV.

As its name suggest, the new processor is a more intelligent processor Sony produces for the BRAVIA XR TVs. As with any modern processors in the market for any electronics items, it is also an Artificial Intelligence (AI) equipped chip. Sony claims that it is not conventional AI that they use here though.

  • Source: Sony
  • Source: Sony

They call it cognitive intelligence, and it does kind of work to work with our cognitive behaviour when we watch the TV. Sony says that the processor is designed to replicate the ways we see and hear, like replicating focal points on the TV screen anyway; at least they are attempting to. In some sense, the processor is not attempting to create better, more vibrant, and upscaled image. Instead, they are trying to make images look more natural to our eyes.

The processor divides the display panel into zones to detect focal points in a picture. It still works like conventional AI where colours, contrasts, and details are refined. It does a bit more than just analysing and refining the general elements though. When it finds the focal points of each frame it automatically enhances its elements to the best it can be alongside the other parts of the image. The result of that is a more natural looking image that is almost lifelike, at least according to Sony.

The processor also tampers a little bit with audio and its signal positions. The processor will identify the images, analyse sound positions and correctly places them through the speakers. The processor also converts the audio signal into proper 3D surround sound for an immersive experience without you spending extra on sound bar or a separate sound system. All-in-all, the Sony BRAVIA XR with Cognitive Processor XR is meant to really elevate your TV experience with little tweaks that matter.

  • Source: Sony
  • Source: Sony
  • Source: Sony
  • Source: Sony

With the introduction of the new Cognitive Processor XR too, the BRAVIA TVs get some new features. For one, Google TV is now available on Android TV. All BRAVIA XR TVs also get HDMI 2.1 and e-ARC compatibility for 4K 120fps support, beneficial for modern console gaming. The new BRAVIA XR TVs will also add additional support for smart speakers like Google Nest Speakers so you can control your TV with smart speakers too. On top of all of that, the TVs will also come with Netflix Calibrated Mode for studio like Netflix experience on Sony BRAVIA XR TVs.

For now, the Cognitive Processor XR will be available in five models in Malaysia. The Sony BRAVIA XR XR-65A90J OLED TV (65-inch, MYR 17,999), XR-65A80J OLED TV (65-inch, MYR 14,999), XR-55A80J OLED TV (55-inch, MYR 9,199), XR-65X90J Full Array LED TV (65-inch, MYR 7,599), and XR-55X90J Full Array LED TV (55-inch, MYR 5,399) are all available in Malaysia. There will be an 8K XR-85Z9J, OLED XR-77A80J, Full Array LED XR-75X90J coming soon into Malaysia. For more information on the Sony BRAVIA XR TVs, you can head over to Sony’s website.

Mobile, News

Qualcomm Processors Have A Worrying Security Flaw

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Qualcomm provides processors for nearly every smartphone OEM you can think of. The company’s success in providing stable, powerful systems on a chip (SoCs) have made it one of the largest suppliers in the world. However, the dependency on a single provider may not bode well for OEMs with a crucial vulnerability being discovered in these SoCs.

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Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

An Isreali cybersecurity research firm called CheckPoint Research has found a crucial flaw in Qualcomm’s MSM (Mobile Station Modems) that could potentially affect user privacy. The MSM is an SoC itself which allows smartphones using Qualcomm’s processors to connect to cellular networks such as 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G. It also enables a slew of features that complement the connectivity including high definition recording of calls.

The vulnerability affects a protocol called the Qualcomm MSM Interface (QMI) which facilitates communication between MSM’s software components and other systems on the device it’s been deployed in. This vulnerability allows malicious actors (ie hackers) to inject malicious code into the modem. They can do this by deploying apps or other more intricate ways to access data such as user call history and SMS. The fact that the vulnerability could even be exploited to listen in to you conversations and unlock the SIM on the phone is all the more alarming.

Photo by Daniel Romero on Unsplash

Given the proliferation of Qualcomm processors in the market, an estimated 30% of devices worldwide are affected by the security vulnerability. However, in a research note, CheckPoint does indicate that Qualcomm has been notified of the vulnerability since October last year. Since then, Qualcomm and manufacturers such as Samsung have already been deploying fixes for the vulnerability. Of note, the vulnerability will be listed in Google’s next monthly Android Security bulletin. Samsung has indicated that the May 2021 patch does address the vulnerability and has been patching the vulnerability silently since January 2021.

The vulnerability classified as CVE-2020-11292 and has been noted to affect smartphones from OnePlus, OPPO, Google, LG, Samsung and more.

Android, Lifestyle, Mobile, News, Social Media

Clubhouse Coming to Android After More Than a Year in iOS Exclusivity.

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There was a debate that raged on a bit in a certain new and upcoming social media app. The app was valued at US$ 4 Billion (MYR*) at its most recent fundraiser too. That social media platform is Clubhouse, and the debate was whether or not Clubhouse should remain an iOS exclusive platform.

For over a year, Clubhouse has remained exclusive to iOS. That is not without good reason though. Developing on iOS is a little more straightforward because there is not a tonne of scaling to work with, everything is based on roughly the same hardware architecture. You do not have to take different versions of iOS and iPhone devices into account either, the SDK will do its job and standardise experience across all iPhone devices. Obviously, with the amount of Android devices out there for different market segments, things become a little more complex when you want to develop on Android. This was the case of WhatsApp on iOS and Android all over again.

Still, the voice based social network app has been one of the most popular apps since the pandemic broke out and everyone in the world is expected to stay at home and lock themselves up. It gave people another way to stay connected with the rest of the world. It gave way to Elon Musk to connect with other people from other parts of the world without physically meeting them. Elon Musk could be one of the reasons why Clubhouse blew up too.

Still, because Clubhouse was a thing, Android users are now asking for the feature on their devices. Clubhouse also have been reportedly working on its Android app for some time now. Earlier in the year Clubhouse finally announced that they are going to put Clubhouse in Google’s Play Store. This week, they came through in the United States of America (U.S.A.).

Source: Clubhouse

The Clubhouse app is now in open Beta state in Google Play Store. While that means you get access to the most basic functions of Clubhouse like joining a chat room and moderate a chat for example, there are still some things that users on Android will not get access to for the time being. For one, Android users will not be able to report someone else for now. That feature will come soon though according to Clubhouse.

Translation and localisation will not yet be available as well on the Android version. Understandably, Clubhouse on Android is still limited to the U.S. and will be rolling out to other English-speaking regions within these few weeks. You cannot create club or manage any clubs at the moment too with the Beta version of Clubhouse on Android. You can read the full list of missing features on Clubhouse’s FAQ page.

The team behind Clubhouse is also noting that they will be collecting feedback from the community on the app. In the coming weeks, the team will be fixing all kinds of bugs and add more features before finally releasing the app properly on Google Play Store as a full app. The only thing that they have not changed their stance on is the invite-only system. You have to be invited into the app to sign up for an account. Signing up for the app is free though.

The Clubhouse app will be available in Beta in the U.S. region for now. As Mentioned the app will roll out in other English-speaking regions soon after. If you are keen to get on the platform with existing invites at hand, you can head over to Google Play Store to register as an interested user and be the first Android user when it becomes available in your region.

Android, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Wear OS Gets New GBoard -Fresher, Faster, Better

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Google’s I/O is just around the corner and there are plenty of things to look forward to in Google I/O. One of them is improvements and updates to Wear OS. If you do not know what Wear OS is, it is basically Google’s perception of what a wearable interface should look like. The smartwatch OS can be found on plenty of smartwatches you can find on the market that is not a HUAWEI, or Samsung, or Fitbit, or Apple. In Malaysia, the most popular Wear OS smartwatch currently are still from Fossil.

While it is considered one of the major smartwatch interfaces you can find in the current market, contents for Wear OS can be limited. Of course, the app ecosystem for Wear OS is still growing and there are still room for improvements for the wearables that are equipped with Wear OS. Google also hardly updates or releases new apps on their own Wear OS, weirdly enough. Until now that is, with a certain GBoard.

GBoard is a keyboard, yes. In fact, it is one of the most popular and most loved keyboards in the world of Android. Some of the best and most popular Android smartphone sports GBoard as their default keyboard, that is how good it is. Wear OS also sports Google’s own default keyboard on the platform that has not been updated until now.

Previously known as Google Keyboard, GBoard gets a new update that borderlines a makeover of the app on Wear OS. The new Wear OS still retains the full QWERTY layout but with a more streamlined and cleaner design compared to the clunky Google Keyboard of old. Of course, GBoard also retains gestures and voice input functions. They are much easier to access now though.

Source: Google

The new GBoard also still has word suggestions, except that it is now scrollable instead of a drop-down menu. That makes word suggestion a lot more accessible and much more intuitive to work with. The word suggestion bar is also your quick access to input methods now. To allow for a bit more space and accessibility on the keyboard, the language toggle is now moved to the spacebar instead of a dedicated language button.

The update for Gboard for WearOS should be a huge welcome for the platform and its users. The platform, since its 2.0 release five years ago, have stagnated a little. Its last update was a minor update to version 2.23 with minute changes to improve its connectivity support and battery life mostly. Wear OS is expected to receive a major update in the upcoming Google I/O.  

Computers, News

HP Unveils the HP EliteOne 800 All-in-One with AI Noise Reduction

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Source: HP / HP EliteOne 800

With the world moving to embrace the work from anywhere culture, it is becoming increasingly imperative that we have capable setups both at work and at home. A third of the workforce is expected to continue splitting their time between home and office even after the pandemic. HP is looking to provide an option with their new HP EliteOne 800 All-in-One (AiO).

Source: HP / HP EliteOne 800

The new AiO from HP is being touted as a virtual conference powerhouse for both home and office. It comes in two sizes – 23.8-inch and 27-inch. Both versions come with an integrated pop-up webcam which not only allows you to connect with colleagues and loved ones but also allows you to put it away when you’re not using it, helping maintain your privacy. HP is also offering an option for a dual-facing 5-megapixel camera which bring additional features including intelligent face tracking which tracks the user’s face allowing them to move about during video calls without being out of focus. It also dynamically adapts to lighting for optimal video quality.

Source: HP / HP EliteOne 800

The HP EliteOne 800 AiO comes with AI Noise Reduction which helps minimise background sounds. The integrated AI helps reduce not only outbound noises but also inbound ones. This will help ensure that you’re heard on the other end even if it gets a little bit noisy. This paired with HP’s run quiet design which maximises airflow and keeps the system running cool and quiet. Your data is also kept secure when you walk away from your PC with the EliteOne 800 AiO with HP’s Presence Aware. The AiO is powered with the latest Intel Core processors paired with high-performance memory and RAM to fit your needs.

Source: HP / HP EliteDesk 800 Desktop Mini

Together with the AiO, HP also announced a new line up of EliteDesk desktops which are configurable to meet the needs of any workspace. The EliteDesk 800 comes in three form factors: the Desktop Mini, Small Form Factor and Tower. These desktops are designed for different workspace needs. The EliteDesk 800 Desktop Mini and Small Form Factor are designed to minimise the physical footprint of the desktop while keeping it cool and packed with power while the Tower is built for ultimate expandability.

Pricing & Availability

No official pricing has been announced by HP for the AiO or desktops just yet. However, it is expected that they will be available worldwide in May.

Gaming, News

ROG Strix Gets A Skateboarding Makeover in Nyjah Huston Edition

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ASUS has been hard at work expanding the influence of the Republic of Gamers (ROG) brand. It’s done this with collaborations with the likes of DJ and producer, Alan Walker and even design firms such as ACRONYM. Their latest collaboration brings together the skateboarding and gaming worlds. The ROG Strix has gotten a makeover befitting 6-time overall and current reigning world skateboarding champion, Nyjah Huston.

Source: ASUS

The ROG Strix SCAR gets new design accents inspired by some of the signature items skateboarders are familiar with. The vent on the back of the Strix SCAR is framed with a metallic bars akin to the bars on the skate park. More importantly, the laptop’s new design takes Nyjah’s unique style and emblazons his insignia side by side the ROG logo. The skateboard inspired accents continue on the main body of the laptop with a grey and black color and customised keycaps that bring more of Nyjah’s signature style.

Like previous collaborations, the design flair isn’t just on the ROG Strix SCAR itself. The Nyjah-ROG collaboration starts from the packaging with an imposing skull and backed by two skateboards – Nyjah’s logo signature – with the letters R-O-G embossed across it. The taglines for both ROG and Nyjah are emblazoned on the packaging as well across the skull. These accents are only visible under UV light.

The ROG Strix SCAR 17 was the centrepiece of this collaboration. The new Strix SCAR 17 comes with an AMD Ryzen 5000 series processor which is complemented by the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series graphics processor. It also has a Full HD IPS display with a 360Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time – a first in a gaming laptop. The SCAR 17 is also one of the first laptops to come with liquid metal cooling and has optical-mechanical keys on its keyboard.

Pricing & Availability

Source: ASUS

While you may be dying to get your hands on the special edition of the Strix SCAR 17, the laptop is a one-of-a-kind created especially for the world champion skateboarder and will not be available commercially. However, you can get a piece of the collaboration with a special ROG x Nyjah Huston wallpaper and Instagram filter.

Android, Mobile, News

Google I/O 2021 Full Schedule is Out – What to Expect from Google in 2021

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Google’s I/O even is set to happen on the 18th of May 2021 onward (19th May 2021, following Malaysia time). Usually also, Google’s I/O is where Google announces their latest and greatest Android version. We can safely assume that the latest update to Android (Android 12) will be announced in Google I/O with Beta version rolling out immediately after.

According to their three-day conference calendar too, a new Android update is definitely on the cards with all the talk about “What’s new in Android”, and “What’s new in Material Design” talks. But Google I/O is more than just Android.  This year it really seems like Google’s biggest one yet.

According to the calendar also there seems to be a new Chrome OS lined-up for announcement with its own keynote. There is also a new update to Google Assistant in Google I/O. Smart homes ecosystem is getting some attention this year too at Google I/O with its own keynote segment. Google Play and Google Pay also get some new updates this year from Google I/O.

Oddly enough though there are no mentions of Wear OS within the schedule. While that also means that there should not be any update to Wear OS for the time being, do not discount Wear OS to be updated later in the year. Google’s acquisition of Fitbit will also not be addressed in Google I/O 2021, in this case. The Fitbit acquisition could also mean a new hardware announcement from Google in the wearable space though.

There are also numerous rumours surrounding Google’s upcoming or speculated Pixel device, the Pixel 5a. Alongside that, Google is also supposed to be announcing their new TWS earbuds in the conference. According to the schedule, there seems to be no acknowledgement on the hardware end of things. Most of the time though, hardware announcements are made in the first keynote of Google’s I/O. We are still expecting some new hardware from Google from Google I/O though. If you are too, keep your eyes peeled on Google’s I/O 2021.

Accessories, News

Apple’s AirTag Raises Child Safety Concerns while Users Lament Inability to Share

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Apple’s new AirTag was announced not too long ago with the latest iPad Pro. The new tracker from Apple allows users to track a myriad of items including their keys and even their pet using wireless and ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. The AirTag even debuted with accessories made by Hermes. However, it’s come under fire for two reasons in the past few days.

The first, rather minor issue relates to Apple’s Family Sharing feature which allows families to share access to Apple’s services with up to five family members. Be that as it may, Apple users are apparently unable to share access to the AirTag’s location with family members. This becomes an issue when users are using AirTag to track shared items or even pets. The inability to do this has evoked the ire of users who have taken to Reddit and the MacRumors forums to express their dissatisfaction.

Apple has clarified that the only privilege afforded to the AirTag under iCloud Family Sharing is the ability to silence the “AirTag Detected”. It seems like the accessory is intended to be “owned” by a single user with limited shareability with others. However, this doesn’t stop Apple from introducing the feature in a future update.

That aside, the AirTag have been removed from Officeworks, an Australian retailer’s shelves after child safety concerns arose from the design of the item. The AirTags are powered by a removable CR2032 battery. The battery can be removed by pushing down and twisting. The simplicity of this mechanism has brought concerns that a child could accidentally access the battery and ingest it which can lead to death. The retailer has expressed that the item will remain off their shelves until guidance is received from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Apple has responded to the issue in a statement to Gizmodo Australia stating, “We are following the regulations closely and are working to ensure that our products will meet or exceed new standards, including those for package labelling, well ahead of the timeline required.”

It’s worth noting that the Samsung SmartTag and SmartTag+ are both powered by the same CR2032 battery. However, unlike the AirTags, users need a coin or flat object to retrieve the battery. That said, this may highlight design issues inherent in trackers currently being released in the market.

Android, Mobile, News

Time to Upgrade: Samsung Stops Updating the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

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Samsung’s brilliant Galaxy S8 series is now a four-year-old flagship smartphone. Four years, in today’s standards, is a long time to own a smartphone and keep it running as your daily driver. The Samsung Galaxy S8 was different though.

The Galaxy S8 series was the first smartphone from Samsung that came out from the drama that was the Samsung Galaxy Note7 series. It was also Samsung’s first foray into the ultra-thin bezel design language with edge-to-edge displays fronting the devices. While the overall design of the device has not changed that much though, it was one good-looking high-end device and feels it too.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus was also Samsung’s first device to come with Android 7.0. But it was not the Samsung that we were used too as well with a complete overhaul of the iconic Samsung interface. The Samsung Galaxy S8 series was the first Samsung One UI device ever, and Samsung never looked back. To be fair, we never looked back into TouchWiz UI too, with good reasons.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ has now officially been removed from Samsung’s security updates page altogether. Last year, they have been removed from monthly update list to quarterly update list. That means also that your Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ will remain as it is from this point onward.

It is not the entire Samsung Galaxy S8 line-up that gets the axe though. The Samsung Galaxy S8 Active and S8 Lite will still be getting quarterly and biannual updates for now. The Galaxy S8 active and Galaxy S8 Lite was launched a little later than the main flagship models launched in the 1st quarter of 2017.

In that case, while you might be tempted to swap the Samsung Galaxy S8 devices for a newer device, you might want to keep in mind that the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ are still great devices in today’s standards. We are not saying you should not upgrade, because we think you should take a look at today’s flagships and get what tickles your fancy through the highly competitive smartphone plans from your favourite telco. The Samsung Galaxy S8 still can be used as your secondary device for example. You could even turn it into your IoT controller or sensor if you want to with Samsung’s Galaxy Upcycling at Home programme.

With the removal of Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and S8+ from the supported updates list, comes a slew of changes too to other devices being moved from regular monthly updates to quarterly and biannual updates from this point onward. True to Samsung’s words, firmware updates for their devices are kept to about 4 years. As we mentioned earlier, four years is a long time for a modern smartphone. Four years update cycle is also longer than most manufacturers in the industry currently. To check if your Samsung Galaxy device is still supported and updated, check out their updates website.