Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) President and CEO, Jim Ryan, announced in a post on the SIE Blog that Discord and Playstation will be coming together in new ways. The news comes on the heels of a failed acquisition by Microsoft of the popular chat platform. The announcement seems to be a commitment by Sony to crossplay which will be coming to their Playstation platform.
Together, our teams are already hard at work connecting Discord with your social and gaming experience on PlayStation Network. Our goal is to bring the Discord and PlayStation experiences closer together on console and mobile starting early next year, allowing friends, groups, and communities to hang out, have fun, and communicate more easily while playing games together.
Jim Ryan, President & CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment
The partnership sees Sony Interactive Entertainment make a minority investment in Discord as part of the platform’s Series H funding. It will also see Discord make its way to Sony’s Playstation platform starting early next year. That said, no details on what Discord coming to Playstation have been revealed. There is some speculation that the partnership may simply be the ability to sign in to Discord with your PSN account while some are more optimistic that the chat platform will see an official app for the Playstation 5 and possibly last generation’s Playstation 4.
After months of speculation and years of patience on our end, Disney+ is finally taking its step into Malaysia. How much is it? It will set you back MYR 54.90 for three months and it starts in June 2021. If you are already a customer of Astro, there are also special packaged for the streaming platform.
For the longest time, the dominating force in the on-demand content streaming service in Malaysia was dominated by none other than Netflix. Of course, there were other competitors in Malaysia with less significant market shares like Prime Video, HBO GO, Astro GO, the homegrown iflix, Dim Sum, and even Viu. A handful of these competitors are not even direct competitors as they tend to show more Asian contents than the other platforms.
Netflix’s closest competitors in Malaysia at the current time would be HBO GO and Amazon’s Prime Video. Those two still pale in comparison to Netflix and what Netflix has to offer. This is also mostly due to Netflix’s highly aggressive marketing strategy and a whole slew of Netflix exclusives that has been churning out in the past few years. Netflix exclusives are also accompanied by very compelling licensed titles including ones from Disney’s studios. Those things made Netflix the platform to have if you want an extensive selection in great contents. Plenty of those contents are also Disney contents.
It only makes sense for Disney to get in on the whole streaming platform game. They are the largest entertainment organisation in the world, after all. In that sense, they own the largest collection of exclusively licensed contents in the world currently. If they start a streaming platform, they have the largest collection of exclusive titles in a single platform. That also means more money for Disney and that is why Disney+ was born.
Source: Disney
Disney+ Hotstar is a streaming platform that is also tailored to Malaysia. That also means that you get exclusive viewing to locally produced films on the platform. Titles like Ejen Ali, Upin & Ipin, Alif & Sofia, and J2: Retribusi, Evolusi KL Drift, KL Gangster, Gol & Gincu, and even Zombitopia are all coming to the platform. There are top selections from the rest of the Asian region too with the likes of Ip Man 4, Infernal Affairs, The Legend of Haolan, and Pandian Stores and Vishwaroopam 2 in the mix too.
Of course, when it is Disney, you expect the bigger Disney blockbusters to appear in the platform. You can now watch WandaVision, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, the upcoming Loki, Frozen, Mula, Maleficent, The Lion King, Marvel’s Avengers, and so much more from Disney+ Hotstar. You even have highly acclaimed titles coming on top of the platform like Fresh off the Boat, Criminal Minds, How I Met Your Mother, and even Grey’s Anatomy.
That said, a few of theses familiar titles that you might have seen on Netflix or other streaming platforms will disappear from the other platforms as Disney+ Hotstar becomes available in Malaysia. As per reported too, Sony has signed an exclusive deal with Netflix instead of Disney. In that case, for the time being we can expect Marvel’s Spiderman movies to be available on Netflix first before airing on Disney+ Hotstar.
Disney+ Hotstar starts streaming for Malaysia on the 1st June 2021 onward. Customers can head over to Disney+ Hotstar website for more information and to subscribe to the platform. Disney+ Hotstar will set you back MYR 54.90 every three months and can be viewed on up to 2 displays at a time. Is it worth subscribing to? That is for you to decide, but we are likely subscribing just for WandaVision, The Falcon and Winter Soldier, the upcoming Loki, and the new Star Wars: The Bad Batch series.
Samsung’s April 2021 Galaxy Unpacked event saw the new Samsung Galaxy Book devices with Samsung’s Galaxy integration. While you can spec them with NVIDIA’s GeForce MX450 discrete GPU, they are not really made for gaming though. For proper gaming, you need something a bit more powerful, a bit beefier. You need a Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey gaming notebook.
The Odyssey namesake from Samsung is technically nothing new. Their very popular gaming monitor line-up bears that coveted name. Now that name comes to a gaming notebook and it seems like a no-brainer. At the same time, it is a little bit of a surprise too.
While Samsung has dabbled in gaming, they have only been dabbling in the display part of gaming. They produced the desirable Odyssey G9 ultra-wide gaming monitor, and recently made TVs that supports up to 120Hz for the next-generation gaming consoles. Still, they are no newbies to the video games industry.
Source: Samsung
The Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey is a little odd though. It is not meant to be the most powerful gaming PC out there. It could come packing Intel’s most powerful mobile based CPU, the 11th Generation Core i7, but it does not come with NVIDIA’s most powerful GPU in their mobile GPU ecosystem. Instead, Samsung took this opportunity to introduce the world to a brand new NVDIA GPU that is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti.
There is not much in terms of information on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti though. In our books, the GeForce RTX 3050 and RTX 3050Ti looks like replacement models to the older GeForce GTX 1660 and GeForce GTX 1660Ti discreet GPUs made for entry-level gaming PCs. In effect, the Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey is made to be an entry-level gaming PC. In that sense, we do not expect NVIDIA’s highly acclaimed Ray Tracing technology to be available to the notebook.
It is still a Samsung Galaxy Book though so it still has Smart Things integration treatment. You can get your Samsung tablet to be its secondary display too, if you want. Heck, you can properly play AAA titles on your tablet if you do that. Easy Bluetooth connection feature ensures that you can easily connect your Bluetooth headphones to the PC quickly and painlessly. Your smartphone experience can easily be integrated with Link to Windows and Your Phone app on the PC.
Source: Samsung
It is, technically, the heaviest Galaxy Book that will be launched to date though. It weighs 1.85kg, which is really not heavy in the world of gaming notebooks. It is also about 17.7mm thick, which is also not all that thick for a gaming notebook. Its aluminium body looks sturdy and sleek, very much like a modern professional notebook. Its subtle logo and muted colour help it blend in your workplace and meeting room. The Pro Keyboard works with you to keep your emails churning out like a proper professional.
You can opt for up to 1TB of SSD storage for fast access to not just your files, but your games. The SSD also helps reduce loading screens. With up to 32GB of RAM, you will not be wanting more too, even if you need it for heavy video work. Speaking of videos, you are getting a 15.6-inch LCD display with Full HD resolution. No mentions on its refresh rate at this point though. We may only know closer to its launch date in August 2021.
They did not mention its battery life too, although we suspect something closer to 8 hours with 83Wh battery pack. In real life, you can expect something closer to 4 hours of battery life. It comes with a 135W fast charger though, to get the large battery quickly topped up. It is also a unique fast charger, because it is a USB Type-C charger which also means you can fast charge your smartphones with the same charger.
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
The Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey will be available in August 2021 onward in selected markets. We cannot confirm if Malaysia will be part of those select markets at this point of time. The Galaxy Book Odyssey will set you back US$ 1,399 (MYR 5,742*) onward. For more information on the Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey, you can head over to Samsung’s website.
*Based on approximate exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.10 as of 30/04/2021
Samsung’s Galaxy name is not just stuck to smart home products and smartphones anymore with the most recent Galaxy Unpacked 2021 event (April). Now, you can find the Samsung Galaxy name on notebooks. To be fair, this is not the first Galaxy notebook there is, but the last Galaxy notebook did not arrive in Malaysia and was short lived.
This is supposed to be different though, this Samsung Galaxy Book. It is supposed to be better, more seamless, more integrated. It is no Samsung Galaxy Book Pro though, so you cannot expect the same thin and light experience.
It is not that much thicker though at 15.4mm. You do not get the beautiful display that is the AMOLED panel from the Galaxy Book Pro, but it is still an expansive 15.6-inch display pushing Full HD in resolution. With up to an 11th generation Intel Core i7 supported by an NVIDIA GeForce MX450, the Samsung Galaxy Book can still be one powerful workhorse for all your entertainment and work needs.
Source: Samsung
You also get to opt for up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage for all kinds of multitasking needs. If you think that 1TB is a little small, you can expand with another SSD slot within the svelte body of the Samsung Galaxy Book. Covering all the internals is also the same Pro Keyboard you would find on the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360.
For all day battery you get a 54Wh battery pack within the Galaxy Book. Of course, unlike its Intel EVO approved sisters, you might want to carry the charger around with you. It is the same 65W charger you get from the Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360 though. That means carrying and deploying your charger is not more of a hassle than charging your smartphones with USB Type-C charging.
While you do not get a lot of the same hardware treatment from the Galaxy Book Pro series, the Samsung Galaxy Book is also one capable Samsung device that should fit into your Galaxy lifestyle easily. It still allows you to work with a Samsung Galaxy tablet as a secondary display. Link to Windows and Your Phone app works better than ever now too. The Galaxy Book also connects to your Galaxy Buds easily with Easy Bluetooth connection.
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
The Samsung Galaxy Book is available in Mystic Silver and Mystic Blue colour options. The notebook will be available 14th May 2021 onward in selected markets at US$ 549 (MYR 2,253*). There are no information or confirmation on its availability and pricing for the local (Malaysia) market just yet. For more information on the Samsung Galaxy Book, you can head over to Samsung’s website.
*Based on approximate exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.10 as of 30/04/2021
Samsung just had an unpacked event last night and we found it quite odd. We did not expect a major unpacked event to happen at this time of the year. Still, it happened, and they launched something we did not really expect them to launch since a few years ago.
Welcome to Samsung’s first notebook PC product in many years. Welcome to the Samsung Galaxy Book ecosystem. First on the menu, are the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro and the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360.
We are going to assume that the Samsung Galaxy Book and Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 is the premium thin and light in their expanding stables of notebook products. The Galaxy Book Pro is light though at less than a kg. Specifically, it weighs just a little under 870g (13.3-inch). The 15.6-inch variant is not that much heavier too at a maximum of 1.15kg.
Source: Samsung
The Samsung Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360 are Intel EVO certified platforms with some new tricks up their sleeves to make it even more seamless for users than ever; we will talk about this later. Intel EVO also means that it packs Intel’s latest 11th Generation Core i7 (up to) to boot. Alongside Intel’s Core processors also is a very capable Intel Iris Xe Graphics. You can opt for an NVIDIA GeForce MX450 discrete GPU (Galaxy Book Pro 15.6-inch) too if you want to and it is available in your region. The powerful Intel processor can be matched to an ample 32GB (up to) of RAM to make quick work of your tasks on the Galaxy Book Pro. It even packs up to 1TB of SSD space to store all the important documents and even your videos.
There is more inside the Galaxy Book Pro and the Galaxy Book Pro 360 though. All Samsung Galaxy Book Pro models, including the 360, packs WiFi 6E capabilities for smooth, stable network experience anywhere they can find WiFi signals. The Galaxy Book Pro 360 (13.3-inch) even has a SIM tray with 5G capabilities. The Galaxy Book Pro (13.3-inch) only has LTE capable SIM tray at this point, but LTE is plenty useful too when you are constantly on the go.
Both the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360 comes with AMOLED (Super AMOLED for Galaxy Book Pro 360) display pushing images at Full HD 1080p resolution. What that means is that you get crisp, saturated, vivid, and very pretty images and videos on your Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360 notebooks. Thanks to the added colour accuracy, editing photos and videos on the notebook should be an experience. You can even edit your photos via Samsung’s own Gallery app now ported to Windows on the Samsung Galaxy Book series.
Source: Samsung
They have redesigned the keyboard as well for a better typing experience. The new Pro Keyboard, as they know it, supposedly features an optimum key travel of up to 1mm and is designed to be quieter and softer than ever before. All that allows for a smooth and comfortable typing experience especially when you are working on long emails. The Pro Keyboard is also a repositioning of the keyboard to maximise your typing position and therefore maximizing the trackpad for a more intuitive navigation through Windows 10.
Both notebooks in the series receive AKG’s treatment for audio with Dolby Atmos certification. That also means immersive sound on both ultrabooks. You even get to immerse yourself in movies even longer with up to 20 hours of video playback time and 16 hours in work/play time from the battery. Of course, that is what is being quoted by Samsung anyway, we have not had our chances to put it through our paces, so we can only take Samsung’s word for it at this time. Both notebooks also come with 65W Fast Charging via USB Type-C ports. The chargers are included of course. You can use the same charger to fast charge your Samsung Galaxy S21 device too.
What’s more impressive is that they managed to fit both the Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360 with a full-sized HDMI, and a full-sized USB Type-A port into the slim bodies of both notebooks. But that is really not the most impressive part of the notebook. The most impressive part of the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360 is how well they seem to integrate Samsung’s own ecosystem into Windows, and how Samsung integrates their Android experience into Windows.
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
If you are already a Samsung device user, you get to benefit plenty from the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360. For one, you get a very familiar S-Pen on the Galaxy Book Pro 360. It is about as big as the one you get from the Samsung Galaxy Tab S, and it is as brilliant, supposedly. But if you own a Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 for example, you get to treat that tablet as a secondary display. It is a secondary touch sensitive display too, so you can naturally draw on the tablet and transfer it to the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro series instantly and seamlessly.
Easy Bluetooth Connection automatically detects other Samsung devices like the Samsung’s Buds earphones line-up for example, or even the Galaxy Watch devices. That also means you do not have to dig through Window’s annoying Bluetooth settings to pair up your earphones and synchronize your Samsung Bluetooth devices. But Samsung’s collaboration with Windows also means that it is now easier than ever to link your Android smartphone to windows with Link to Windows and Your Phone app. You need not download DeX anymore to get your device to seamlessly work on Windows.
You even get access to Smart Things within the Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360 to control all your smart home products from your notebook instead of your smartphone. Quick Share is now a part of the Windows ecosystem so you can start sharing any files instantly to Android devices in your vicinity quickly and seamlessly. These are truly the next step to integrate your devices into a single ecosystem, a way to access everything anytime, anywhere, every time, everywhere.
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
The Samsung Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360 will be available May 14th onward in selected markets. The Galaxy Book Pro starts at US$ 999 (MYR 4,098*) and is available in Mystic Silver, Mystic Blue, and Mystic Pink Gold colour options. The Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 starts at US$ 1,099 (MYR 4,509*) and is available in Mystic Navy, Mystic Silver, and Mystic Bronze colour options. There are no confirmation or information currently on its availability or official pricing in the local (Malaysia) Market. For more information on the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360, you can head over to Samsung’s website.
* Based on approximate exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.10 as of 29/04/2021
Have you ever thought; “hmmm, my selfie camera is not powerful enough; I cannot get a good self portrait and therefore my social media is incomplete”? What vivo launched in Malaysia last night might be your answer to great looking selfies with superb details. They launched the new V21 series smartphone.
The new vivo V21 series packs a very powerful camera system. Out the back is a powerful 64-Megapixel main camera that is flanked by an 8-Megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 2-Megapixel Macro shooter. The highlight though is the 44-Megapixel front-facing camera that you can find on above the display in small notch.
The 44-megapixel camera also comes with its own Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) combined with Electronic Image Stabilisation (EIS) technology to produce selfies like you’ve never seen on a smartphone before. There is also AI Night Portrait mode to ensure that your photos look detailed and noiseless even in low-light conditions combined with f/2.0 aperture for even more light to be captured. If there is still not enough light around you, there are the Dual Selfie Spotlight to light your face combined with the screen’s soft light feature.
Source: vivo
The high-resolution cameras also means that both the front and the back cameras of the vivo V21 can shoot videos at 4K resolution. That also means you can rely on the front camera to even do your own vlogs with the vivo V21. Either that or shoot great looking TikTok videos or Instagram Reels.
You need some power to get smooth 4K video recording experience though. Some power is also needed to keep both the front and back cameras happy and shooting quickly. That power is found in the form of a powerhouse that is the MediaTek Dimensity 800U (Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G for V21e) System on a Chip (SoC). The powerful processor is supported by an 8GB RAM for all kinds of multitasking needs and 128GB of storage to ensure all your photos has somewhere to go.
Source: vivo
Viewing your photos before you post them are very important too. That is why vivo has fitted the V21 with a 6.44-inch AMOLED display. The display boasts Full HD in resolution with 90Hz refresh rate to give you that really smooth feel while scrolling through the interface. 90Hz is great for gaming too, of course.
To keep the device running all day is a 4,000mAh battery kept within the slim and svelte 7.29mm (7.39mm for V21e) glass and aluminium body. It even charges at 33W too, in case you need a quick charge before you leave home or the office. The 33W FlashCharge technology is of course delivered via the USB Type-C port of the device.
Source: vivo
Source: vivo
Source: vivo
Source: vivo
Source: vivo
Source: vivo
Source: vivo
Source: vivo
Source: vivo
Source: vivo
Source: vivo
The vivo V21 series is now available for pre-order (until 4th may 2021) via vivo’s own E-Store, authorized dealers, vivo concept stores, and vivo flagship stores on Shopee and Lazada. The new selfie focused smartphone will be available in Dusk Blue and Sunset Dazzle (Roman Black and Diamond Flare for V21e). The vivo V21 will set you back MYR 1,399 and the V21e will set you back MYR 1,299. If you do pre-order a unit of the vivo V21 or the V21e, you are eligible for a 1-year extended warranty, 1-year screen crack protection, an MYR 50 instant rebate, and an exclusive gift that amounts to MYR 699 and MYR 599 in total value respectively. For more information on the vivo V21 series, you can head over to vivo’s website.
Work from home has become an undeniable fact given the current realities of the world we live in. Dell has been one of the companies that have been active innovating when it comes to creating solutions that they believe cater to the new niche that has been emerging. The latest device to make it into the Dell line up: the Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable.
The new Dell Latitude Detachable brings the tablet with detachable keyboard design to Dell’s professional line up. The new form factor brings more processing power with Intel’s latest generation vPro processors in a body that weighs less than 1kg.
The slim and light laptop packs a punch when it comes to features as well. The Dell Latitude Detachable comes with options such as a 5-megapixel, 1080p web cam with support for 30fps video and dual array microphones which should help with video calls. It also has options for mobile connectivity with support for the Qualcomm Snapdragon X20 LTE modem. If you need a more tactile experience, the Latitude comes with support for styli as well.
Of course, a Dell PC wouldn’t be complete without support for the many innovations that Dell has created to make their laptops one of the most stable and reliable. This includes Dell’s SafeBIOS and Dell’s remote support solutions. Companies looking to deploy the Latitude Detachable can deploy the laptop complete with their necessary software direct from the manufacturer.
When it comes to connectivity and graphics, the Latitude Detachable comes with the Intel IRIS Xe integrated graphics. On the connectivity side of things, it supports WiFi 6 (802.11ax) in addition to the standard WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac. Bluetooth 5.1 and Thunderbolt 4 are also supported.
Pricing & Availability
The Dell Latitude Detachable will be available starting April 27, 2021 in the U.S. with prices starting at USD$1,549 (MYR6,354.54).
In Malaysia, the Dell Latitude Detachable will be available starting on April 27, 2021. The Latitude will be available with specifications starting with the Intel Core i5-1130G7 with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD memory. Prices will start from MYR8,362.43.
The latest iOS is out now and it is the biggest iOS update since iOS 14 launched. If you do not know yet, iOS is the thing that allows you to work with your iPhone. The iOS 14.5, as they call it, comes with a whole slew of improvements that could improve your quality of life with your Apple devices.
Unlock You iPhone, Now You Do Not Need Your Face
Source: Apple
Unlocking your devices with your face is great. You only need to look at your device when you turn it on, and you are ready to go within 2 seconds of your display turning on. For the Apple iPhone X and newer, Face ID is a blessing because none of those devices come with a fingerprint sensor. Face ID, in the world of modern Apple iPhones, is the only way for you to unlock your Apple iPhone. Obviously that is a problem when you are wearing a mask in this time of pandemic.
Not anymore though. With iOS 14.5 paired to an Apple Watch with WatchOS 7.4, your iPhone can now be unlocked without you even looking into your iPhone. That also means you do not need to take off your mask in the public to unlock your device. Then again, you could just enter your passcode to unlock your iPhone. Using the Apple Watch to unlock is much faster and more elegant way to do it though. You can even require your Apple Watch to be on your wrist for your iPhone to instantly unlock, if you like.
Siri’s New Voices
Source: Apple
Siri has a signature voice. That default voice is recognized and loved by many, especially Apple iPhone users. But what if you are one of those that gets annoyed whenever Siri talks to you in its default voice. iOS 14.5 introduces new voices for Siri.
Users now can choose between up to four voices when they first set up their iOS 14.5 device in English. That way, you can choose the Siri that annoys you the least, or the one you like best. That way also your Siri is more “you”.
Siri also now supports Group FaceTime. That means you can ask Siri to initiate FaceTime with a few people at one go, or initiate a FaceTime call with a certain group you have in Messages. When you are using your AirPods or compatible Beats headphones Siri will announce incoming messages to you via your headphones. Siri also supports calling emergency contacts now in conditions where you cannot make calls or in emergency situations.
More Private
Source: Apple
There are also more controls over your privacy with iOS 14.5. App Tracking Transparency requires apps to obtain user’s permissions over different tracking requirements for the apps before any tracking is done. It also asks for user’s permission before sharing data across to data brokers or advertisers. You can change the tracking behavior of each app too in Settings.
More Emoji
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
What is an iPhone without its funky emoji? Apple’s commitment to diversification and inclusiveness adds new emoji to iOS 14.5. iOS 14.5 now introduces new couple kissing emoji and couple with heart emoji with different skin tones. There are several new emoji as well including a woman with beard emoji.
Improve Apple Maps with Your Friends and Other Users
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Apple Maps can be made better with user inputs now too. Users can now report incidents on the road quickly and safely. Users can just tell Siri that there is an accident up ahead or even reporting a pothole coming up. Apple Maps could even show if the incident has been cleared up. Of course, if you are a passenger, you can quickly report an incident by hitting the “Report an Issue” button in the app. You can also share your ETA when walking or cycling to let others know their arrival time. Users with Apple CarPlay can also access that function via Siri. Unfortunately, the “Report an Issue” function is now only available for Apple Maps users in US and China only.
And Plenty More
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
Apple Podcast on iOS 14.5 gets a redesign. The redesign allows for more intuitive navigation and even quicker access to your favourite podcasts on the app. You can now save and download episodes just in case you want to listen to your favourite podcasts when you travel. The downloaded podcast will be available in your Library for quicker access.
AirTag is also now supported on iOS 14.5. AirTags was just launched a week ago and it is one of the most convenient ways to keep track of your things, or your child if you want to. AirTags will help you find things like your keys, so it saves you a lot of time when you misplace it, or when it drops somewhere.
Apple News also gets a redesign. The News+ tab is redesigned for users to find, download, and manage magazine or newspaper issues. They have also redesigned Search for more relevant search experiences.
On iOS 14.5, users can also stream audio and video to AirPlay 2 enabled hardware with Apple Fitness+. You can now cast your fitness routine and guides to supported TVs instead of viewing them from the small display that is your iPhone. You can get loud and clear instructions via a wireless speaker rather than struggling with the speakers from the iPhone.
iOS 14.5 also include Dual SIM support for 5G connectivity. The new interface also improves data consumption to allow for a better and more efficient use of your monthly data quota. That is not all though, Smart Data Mode improves battery life and is supposed to allow for more stable data experience.
Looks like Spotify and Facebook are playing extra nice with the launch of a new feature which brings even more integration of the music platform to the Facebook app. Come across a song that’s caught your ear on Facebook? The new miniplayer feature will allow you to simply press play to get the beat going as you continue to browse your timeline. The new miniplayer feature will allow you to play music from videos with licensed music as well as other content on your Newsfeed.
The new Spotify feature on Facebook will require users to connect the apps. Upon connecting the apps, users will be able to play songs they come across on their Facebook Newsfeed as they browse. As always, the feature will be available to Spotify Premium users with full access in the miniplayer. Free users, however, will be able to access the feature with shuffle mode and ads from Spotify.
The new feature is available in select countries including Malaysia, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, Uruguay, and the U.S. The feature will continue to make its way to other markets soon.
New Features, Higher Prices
In addition to the new feature, it seems like Spotify is also revising its pricing. The music streaming platform seems to be rolling out pricing changes to a number of regions including the U.K. and Europe which have seen the price revisions officially announced through email notifications. The revised prices go into effect starting April 30, 2021. Existing users will have a month’s grace period to decide whether they will be continuing with the service.
Spotify users in Europe will be paying €5.99 (MYR29.62) for the student plan and €12.99 (MYR64.23) for the Duo plan; a €1 (MYR4.94) increase from the initial price. The family plan sees a €3 (MYR14.83) increase to €17.99 (MYR88.95). In the U.K., the price revisions are £5.99 (MYR34.07) for Student, £13.99 (MYR79.56) for Duo and £16.99 (MYR96.63) for family – an increase of £1 (MYR5.69) for the student and duo plans and a £2 (MYR11.38) increase for the family plan.
The price increase is expected to affect countries in Asia and South America as well. No indication of when though.
You’d be wondering if anyone is still using Google Assistant – the short answer would be, yes. However, development on new features for the Assistant hasn’t been as fast as it once was – at least not as revolutionary. That seems to be changing with the a tasty update codenamed “Guacamole”.
The new update reportedly appears on the the beta version of the Google app which runs atop Android 11. Version 12.5 of the beta has a menu called Guacamole in the settings of the Google app which comes with a short description of, “Quickly get things done with Guacamole.” Needless to say, we’re pretty sure they don’t mean the delicious Mexican spread.
Source: 9to5 Google
Source: 9to5 Google
Upon opening the menu, users are greeted with another screen saying, “Skip saying “Hey Google” for help with quick tasks”. In 9to5 Google’s deep dive into the APK, they discovered that the feature will allow users to define commands where they can skip saying the activating “Hey Google” for Google Assistant. In their exploration of the APK, they found that ringing alarms can be cancelled by simply saying “Stop” or “Snooze” whil.e “Answer the call” or “Decline the call” will work for calls.
The feature isn’t really a revolutionary new feature. Nest Hub users have been using a similar feature since 2019. However, it looks like Google is looking to bring the feature to mobile devices which makes so much sense – I mean how many of us actually use our phones as alarm clocks!
There’s no real indication of when the feature will make it to the public Google app but it looks like the search giant is testing the feature with their employees. The screencaps, acquired by 9to5 Google appears to link to an internal page accessible by Google employees only.
