Back in April, OnePlus had their announcement of their new flagships, the OnePlus 8 and the OnePlus 8 Pro. However, back then, rumours were rife with a third device in the series called the OnePlus 8 Lite, which never made its debut. Shortly after, the OnePlus Z surfaced with similar specifications. Now, we have confirmation from OnePlus itself, that their upcoming phone is the OnePlus Nord.
What is the OnePlus Nord?
Remember way back when OnePlus launched their first mid-range smartphone? You don’t? Well, lets talk a little bit about the missed opportunity that was the OnePlus X. Back in 2015, OnePlus released an ill-fated device called the OnePlus X, their first foray into a lower price range than their popular numbered flagship. The device wasn’t very popular and to be honest, was a dumpster fire of a device plagued with bugs.
Come 2020, we have the Nord. OnePlus second attempt at the mid-range market and to be honest, one that makes sense with their numbered flagships hitting true flagship prices. The OnePlus Nord seems to be shaping up as a successor for the OnePlus X. But saying that wouldn’t do justice to the difference in the company’s approach to the OnePlus Nord.
They are approaching the new device like a revitalization of the company’s “Never Settle” tagline. A new beginning for a truly powerful mid-range player with a price tag that puts the competition to shame.
What does the OnePlus Nord Pack?
While we don’t have full confirmations for all the specifications, we can say with confidence that the Nord is shaping up to be a really interesting offering in the mid-range space.
Initially, it was rumoured that the Nord, or the OnePlus Z, as it was known then, would be coming with the MediaTek Dimensity processor. However, the OnePlus Nord seems to now be coming with a Snapdragon 765G which will also mean that the smartphone will be 5G capable. It looks like the processor will be complemented by 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. No word just yet on whether the phone will support microSD cards.
Said by a tipster to come from a virtual Nord training presentation, this lines up quite well with what we already know (save for the phone imagery, which is an obvious placeholder). Let the debunking begin! pic.twitter.com/pA5N4oxJOF
On the display side of things, it looks like the Nord will be coming with a 6.55-inch Super AMOLED display. The screen will have a Full HD+ resolution of 2220×1080 pixels and will have a 90Hz refresh rate. It looks like it will be a hole punch display with slim bezels. It will also be flat unlike the curved 8.
It looks like the OnePlus Nord will be coming with a Quad camera array – not the dual or triple camera setup that was initially rumoured. That said, the camera doesn’t look to be your run of the mill mid-ranger either. It’s a quad array with a 48-megapixel main sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra wide sensor, a 5-megapixel macro sensor and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. If it sounds familiar it’s a similar setup to the Redmi Note 9s which was recently released but it’s to be seen if the company is using the same Sony IMX module. On the selfie side of things, the new offering looks to be bringing a dual camera setup with a 32-megapixel main sensor paired with an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensor.
Source: @evleaks
All of these specs is rumoured to be powered by 4,300 mAh battery with support for 30W fast charging. It will support USB-C but will not have a headphone jack – which is making more sense since we’re getting inklings of OnePlus launching it’s first true wirelsss earphones.
When can I get it and Where?
The new OnePlus Nord will be making its official debut on July 21, 2020 in a special augmented reality (AR) launch. You will need to download the Nord app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store to join in. It will be launching in a very limited beta in North America. However, Malaysia, India and select countries in Europe will be getting the smartphone in all its glory. It looks like the price will be around EUR€500 (MYR2,409.15). We expect the launch price to be about MYR1999-2299 in Malaysia to keep the phone competitive with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy A51 and the iPhone SE.
So far, these are the countries that have been confirmed to get the OnePlus Nord:
LG launched their new line-up of OLED TVs a few weeks ago. While the other Korean giant is moving away from OLED TVs, this one stays true to the path of OLED. Of course, we all know the benefits of LED based displays. They produce better colours, better contrasts, and overall a much better image quality. There is a reason why the best HDR and colour accurate displays in the world are LED based technologies.
Source: LG
The GX Gallery OLED Series TV, as they know it is their premium range of televisions. But Televisions are just that big displays that transmit video data to its users Televisions have also just grown into the years in size, but not in thickness. This just means that the OLED TVs will come with less powerful speakers that they deserve.
That is why you usually get a soundbar or speaker system to pair with your TV. Well, when I say speaker systems; these days, you only need a single soundbar. For LG’s new OLED TV line-up, it has to be LG’s new GX Soundbar.
Source: LG
This is not a regular soundbar, not like that at all. This is LG’s most premium soundbar to be seated with the new GX OLED TVs. If you have seen the Senheiser’s premium soundbar, this is just slightly smaller. That means you want to mount your TV a little higher than usual to avoid this interfering with your view.
You would want this for your TV though, believe me. You get the benefit of both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for a wholesome cinematic experience. But it is not just a cinematic experience you are getting, you are getting a virtual 3D surround audio through just one soundbar set.
Of course, you connect this soundbar to the TV via an eARC cable as usual. Either that, or you can connect it to your tablet or smartphone via Bluetooth connection. That also means that this can be your living room’s music player too.
Source: LG
Source: LG
You get the benefit of using the soundbar to turn your living room into your music listening studio too with Dolby’s True HD and DTS Master Audio support via Bluetooth connection. Then there is the fact that this is a Hi-Res Audio certified speaker with 24bit/96kHz playback support. The built-in LG AI Sound Pro also analyses your contents and decides the best settings to play your audio for the best experience every time.
The LG GX Soundbar will start rolling out this month onward in the global markets. Unfortunately, Malaysia will not be getting the product at this time. Our good neighbours in Singapore is getting it though, never say never.
The title could be a little misleading. Before we go on, we have to clear the air on that a little bit. The Canon EOS R5 is capable of 8K uncropped video recording, not the Canon EOS R6. Now that is out of the way, let us get into it a little bit.
We have always said that the perfect gadget does not exist. That is not to say that we want one device to do everything well. We still believe that there are things that should remain separate from one another. Full-fledged interchangeable lens cameras still have a place in the digital world. In terms of digital imaging, we still think that you should invest on a proper camera if you really want to get the best out of your gear.
In that sense, we also said before that the perfect camera does not exist. Not yet anyway. Until maybe now.
The Canon EOS R5 – This is Why Canon is No. 1
Source: Canon
When you go to plenty of professional photographers, plenty of them uses Canon’s gears. There are a few reasons for that. One of the biggest reasons is the fact that they have a vast array of lenses that fits almost all kinds of situations.
Canon’s cameras are also known to be quick to work with. No, we are not talking about the speed of the cameras taking photos. We are talking about grabbing a camera, get it set up, and get snapping or recording on a whim. They are easy to set up and therefore very quick to work with in any conditions.
When they launched their 1DX Mark II, it took the professional photography space to a whole new level. It took 4K videography into the professional photography space. When the 5D was launched, it put a cinema camera into the hands of enthusiast. You could do a whole video shoot with just these cameras and get cinematic shots. It brought cinema videography to the hands of the common man.
The Canon EOS R5 does all that and brought 8K into the fold. But this is more than just an 8K capable camera. It is also more than just a mirrorless camera, an upgrade of the previously launched Canon EOS R. It is Canon’s flex of power, their statement to why any photographers or videographers should choose Canon over every other brand.
First of all, this is not a cheap camera. Do not mistaken this to be something that you can use for a budget set-up. In Malaysia the Canon EOS R5 will cost MYR 17,999. No, you do not get a kit lens with that. That is more expensive than the Canon EOS R too.
For that money though, you are getting some serious stuff on the Canon EOS R. It packs 45-Megapixel, a brand-new sensor for the best mirrorless camera out of the Canon’s stables. Utilising that sensor to its fullest is Canon’s new Digic X image processor that is also more powerful than anything you can find on any of Canon’s camera. That processor allows 180 45-Megapixel photos to be taken in just 9 seconds before needing a breather. That is 20 frames of photos taken every second in electronic shutter mode in RAW.
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
The Digic X processors also allows Canon to develop and fit their highly acclaimed Dual-Pixel Auto Focus II into the R5. Its first generation of Auto Focus brought the imaging world to new heights with the super-fast, super-accurate focusing capability that is the Canon cameras. Nothing could compare or catch up until a few years ago. With the second generation of Dual-Pixel Auto Focus, Canon increases the coverage area of Auto Focus to the entire frame now. If that is not progress, we do not know what is.
It leverages the same RF mount that the Canon EOS R which also means it can take advantage of newer, higher quality and bigger lens openings. Provided, of course, that Canon produces the lenses needed. There are adapters that you can use as well to get EF and PL mount lenses to fit the Canon EOS R5 to fit any kinds of shooting requirements.
Ergonomically, it looks and is said to feel like any high-end Canon camera with all the correct tactile buttons, joysticks, and rotating dial buttons. The touch sensitive sensor of the EOS R is removed to give a better and more familiar feel, they say. It is a good thing.
Source: Canon
Of course, with higher speeds and 8K 30fps recording, you need a fast writing and reading memory module. For that, the EOS R5 has a CF card slot and still the favourite SD card slot. You can even record at 4K at 120fps with this.
Why production houses would want to go for this camera though is not just its 8K capabilities. It now has in-Body Image Stabiliser. Specifically, Canon has fitted a 5-axis stabiliser for its full frame sensor to ensure that videos may not even need gimbals to work with. That cuts down a whole lot of bulk from your gear bag and set up. You can even take long exposure shots with this free-handed, no problem. Of course, you want to pair that to Canon’s image stabilised lenses too to get the most out of the camera.
When we say that there is no perfect camera, we could eat our words with this one. This is one camera that can do everything. It can do high-resolution photos that could even replace medium-format cameras for printing purposes. This could even do videos and means that it could be the main driver for most production houses.
The Canon EOS R6 – Less Could Mean More
Source: Canon
The Canon EOS R5 is a tad expensive though. What if you cannot afford such luxury? What if you still need a do-it-all camera? You get the Canon EOS R6.
You can really liken this to the previously launched Canon EOS R. We would call it the Canon EOS R Mark II, but we are not Canon, so there is that. Still, this cheaper package is no slouch even when you put it up against its more premium Canon EOS R5 brother.
You get 20-Megapixel out of it, which is not as much as the Canon EOS R5. Still, it is the same sensor they used in their highly acclaimed Canon EOS 5D full frame camera. That same camera still hold its own in today’s standard too, so it is not like you are getting much of a trade-off for price here.
The sensor allows the Canon EOS R6 to push its EV sensitivity to as low as -6.5. You can push up ISO all the way to 102,400 natively. Of course, the lower Megapixel count produces much less heat in video recording mode. Important, for a production purpose camera.
It also comes with Canon’s Digic X processor with Dual Pixel Auto Focus II. So, you are still getting the high-performance from the EOS R5. You can still shoot continuously at 12 frames per second.
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Where you get a little short-handed though is the video recording capabilities It shoots at a maximum of 60 frames per second on 4K resolution. If high-speed shooting is what you are after, it shoots 120 frames per second at 1080p Full HD resolution. Still, less heat also means you get to shoot for longer periods without having the camera turn itself off due to heat. And yes, you still can shoot videos in RAW, or C-Log.
Lens, Lens, Lens
Source: Canon
Of course, Canon being Canon, there are new lenses to fit the new mirrorless line-up. It seems that their focus has shifted to supporting the mirrorless market too with the RF-mount lenses.
With the launch of the Canon EOS R5 and R6, Canon has introduced their new RF85mm f/2 macro IS STM lens, RF600m f/11 IS STM telephoto lens, and RF 800mm f/11 US STM telephoto lens. These are the prime lenses that is made specifically for wildlife shoots and portrait photography. The 600mm and 800mm lenses are also made to be as compact as they can be, unlike traditional telephoto lenses.
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Source: Canon
Zoom lenses? Of course, they are not going to miss out those who are looking for a viable all-purpose zoom telephoto lens to make their EOS R line-up even more versatile. For that, they introduced the Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM lens. You can use this for all kinds of shoot too including sports, wildlife, or for photojournalism purposes.
Prices and Availability
The Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6 will be available later in the year 2020. The EOS R5 comes to Malaysia first in August 2020 and will set you back MYR 17,999 (body only). The EOS R6 will come a month later in September 2020 at MYR 11,999 (body only).
The two prime telephoto lenses will be available in August 2020 as well. The RF600mm f/11 IS STM will set you back MYR 3,409. Quite affordable if you ask me. The RF800mm f/11 IS STM will cost you MYR 4,409.
For the all purpose RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM, you are looking at a release date of September 2020. You can get our hands on one for MYR 13,069. On top of these, Canon also has new range extenders for the RF lenses on the EOS R line-up. You can get either a 1.4x extender or 2x extender at MYR 2,439 or MYR 2,939 respectively when it is available in August 2020.
Hot off their international launch of a new line up of XPS laptops and their Malaysian launch of the Precision and Latitude lines, Dell is adding a new member to the XPS family: the XPS Desktop. The new XPS desktop draws inspiration from the minimalistic designs of its laptop brethren. Keeping it simple, elegant and performance driven. In fact, it’s even slimmed down to keep a sleeker profile. The once 24L body of the XPS Desktop is now only 19L and it doesn’t sacrifice much when it comes to space for internals.
The new XPS Desktop isn’t just elegant, it packs the power when it comes to specifications. It comes supped up with 10th generation Intel Core i processors ranging from the Core i3 to the creator focused Core i9. This is paired with a up to 128GB of RAM and complemented with up to 4TB of storage in various hardware configurations.
Built for Content
Keeping it’s eye on creators and hardware intensive processes, the XPS Desktop will be coming with a slew of options for it’s graphics card ranging from the NVIDIA GT 1030 to the NVIDIA RTX 2070 SUPER and even AMD graphics processors ranging from the AMD Radeon RX 5300 to the powerful Radeon RX 5700 XT. It also has options for a DVD-RW or Blu-ray burner in the optical drive department.
Of course, being a performance focused desktop, the XPS comes with a bevvy of ports on the back. On the front, it comes with 3 USB 3.1 ports, 1 USB Type C, a 3.5mm jack and a SD card slot. It also comes with support for Killer AX1650i WiFi 6 connectivity. Complementing the power packed internals are options for 150W or 500W power supply.
The Dell XPS desktop take a page out of its laptop brethren with voltage regulator cooling to more efficiently cool the processors. In fact, the engineers at Dell have designed the chassis to maximise airflow and cooling when it comes to the hard disks and processors. Accessing the internals shouldn’t be a problem with the toolless system that it adopts.
A Perfect Match with the New Dell S-series Monitors
Together with the new power packed XPS Desktop, Dell also announced three new S Series monitors. The new additions to the affordable S-series monitors bring even more options and larger sizes to the popular series of monitors.
The new additions to the S series monitors come in two different sizes: 27-inch and a larger 32-inches. The 27-inch monitor comes in Full HD and 4K Ultra HD resolutions. These monitors have 99% coverage of the sRGB gamut and are equipped with AMD FreeSync technology. The Dell 32 Curved 4K Monitor (S3221QS) comes with dual 5W speakers built-in.
Dell is bringing the Dell Premium Panel exchange program to the S series monitors during their limited hardware warranty period. The Premium Panel exchange will ensure that you get a consistent experience with the new monitors. Dell will replace defective IPS panels which result inconsistent bright spots. This program is available in the United States for now. No information if the Dell Premium Panel exchange will be coming to other regions.
Pricing & Availability
The Dell XPS Desktop is available immediately in the U.S. and Canada with prices starting at USD$649.99 (MYR2,774.41). It will be available in Malaysia starting the end of July 2020. Prices will start at MYR3,499 for a Core i5 with 8GB of RAM and a GTX1650 Super.
Europe and other regions will have the XPS Desktop within the month as well.
The Dell S-Series monitors will be available worldwide starting on 20 August 2020. Malaysia will be getting the monitors in late August with their prices to be announced at a later date. International pricing is as below:
Dell 32 Curved 4K UHD Monitor (S3221QS) will be priced starting at USD$499.99 (MYR2,131.13).
Dell 27 4K UHD Monitor (S2721QS) will retail with prices starting at USD$449.99 (MYR1,918.02).
Dell 27 Monitor (S2721DS) will retail starting at USD$349.99 (MYR1,491.78).
About a week ago, rumours surfaced that Apple would be forgoing the charger when it came to what comes in the box with their upcoming iPhone 12 series. The move comes in a supposed effort that would allow the company to be greener while keeping rising 5G production costs down. Analysts Ming-Chi Kuo and Barclays expect that this may be a move to USB-C charging. The solution for Apple’s lack of charger is to release a new optional accessory: the 20W charger.
As befuddling as that rumour is, it seems like companies with Android based devices are looking to follow the same trend. According to a report published by ET News, Samsung maybe the first manufacturer to make the move in the Android space with devices expected to ship without the charger as soon as next year.The reasoning behind the move is apparently the same as Apple with the report citing increasing costs of manufacturing 5G devices as one of the major reasons Samsung is following suit.
However, it seems like one of the rationales behind the move is also the abundance of chargers consumers have inadvertently collected over the past decade. To be honest, how many of us actually still charge our phones with the in box charger? Many of us have opted to use certified third party ones or are still using some of our older chargers which still work. In fact, some of us have actually given their environmental argument some validity by throwing away our old chargers every time we get a new device.
The biggest benefit that seems to be coming from this move is a plausible price drop particularly when it comes to mid and lower end devices. That said, it still remains to be seen how the omission will affect the overall pricing of phones. Keep in mind, the charger is one of the simplest items in the box comparatively. So, the real effect of this omission could be negligible especially in higher end devices.
The digital marketplace in South East Asia is quite a crowded space. In Malaysia itself at least, we have Lazada, Shopee, Lelong, Mudah, and LamboPlace. Now, we have Vettons.
Launched on 7th July 2020, the platform looks to change the whole e-commerce environment in Malaysia. Yes, this is the new e-commerce platform that has been teased on social media. This is the e-commerce platform that is going to “revolutionise” online shopping in Malaysia.
Source: Vettons
Vettons is purely app based, so good luck scrolling through their web store like traditional e-marketplaces. The website will direct you to a download link on Google Play and App Store. Still, it is available for free on both platforms.
A new online marketplace is always a welcome addition in Malaysia though. Still, this is not like any other e-commerce sites like any other though. It is supposed to be cleverer.
Vettons is different because they ensure that their products are off the highest quality. Okay, maybe we are overselling that a little bit. They are just making sure that the products that are sold on their platform are genuine things from their third-party merchants.
That also means you will not see questions of whether items are genuine in the comment sections. Everything is ensured to come from partner brands. In turn, each brand ensures that their products are up to a certain standard, that is quite normal.
Source: Vettons
Of course, like other platforms too, you get the promo items or items with the lowest prices presented to you in the first page. Thing is you need to be shopping or browsing around a little bit for the algorithm to understand your purchase patterns and preferences. We can get into that a little more later.
What is even more interesting is that Vettons promises delivery within 24 hours for each item you buy. This is something that is not offered on most of the platforms in Malaysia. That means if you might need something urgently, Vettons can deliver if they have the item you want that is.
Now we get to the algorithm. They are touting a very clever interface that learns what you do and what you purchase and personalise the shopping experience to you. They are also looking to make the platform more interactive than just you shopping for things. After all, “customer satisfaction” is the main goal.
Source: Vettons
In some sense, what Vettons promises us as potential customers are not technically radical new things. They are looking to make things just a little smarter for us, shoppers. We do appreciate new things though.
Vettons is available for free on Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store now. For more information on Vettons, you can visit their website.
We are back after a two week hiatus. We are finally repopulating the office after a few months under quarantine. This week’s show is quite big though. We are taking a deeper stab and discussion about what happened between HUAWEI, ZTE, and FCC last week. FCC has finally banned HUAWEI and ZTE from being used by any American contractors using the federal subsidy for all communication devices. This is a huge problem for us who are quite big fans of their smartphones with Google Play Services. This announcement sets them back on the progress toward having Google Play Services in their newer devices too.
We saw a few ASUS notebooks being launched starting with ASUS’ ExpertBook B9 notebook PC made for business. We also see the VivoBooK S launched last week. We reviewed it of course, and you can find the link here. Then we got to see the soon coming ASUS ZenBook 13 and 14 flagship notebook PCs.
We also saw OnePlus launching a brand new smartphone in the OnePlus Nord. The OnePlus Nord is OnePlus’ attempt to hit back into the budget smartphone market. Everything about it screams mid-range too, which makes sense with its price. So, should you still get a HUAWEI device? Listen on and see what we think! Let us know what you think too in the comments below!
We live in unprecedented times where communities need to support each other to make sure that we all survive what has been a weird roller coaster of a year. One of the worst hit industries has been the food and beverage industry with restaurants losing humongous chunks of their dine-in revenue and paying even more in delivery commissions with delivery partners such as Grab and FoodPanda. Some have reportedly been asked to pay upwards of 20% of their order to these partners.
EatLokal is looking to change that reality by partnering with disruptor brands like MyGroser and Socar to help bolster and support the local restaurant industry. They are working with these services to bring down the cost of delivery for both the restaurants and consumers. In fact, the company is looking to charge only 10% commission on sale for their launch period to help businesses increase sales and get back on their feet. The reason behind the low commission? Simple, they believe that the bulk of the revenue earned through sales of food should stay with restaurants at this time.
While EatLokal is focusing on delivering better value for service to restaurant owners, they aren’t leaving the consumer behind. They are looking to deliver better value for money when it comes to getting the convenience of ordering food. EatLokal is looking to connect us with our favourite local eateries. From the corner store with that deliciously thirst quenching cendol to the savoury chicken rice shop in Bangsar, EatLokal is looking bridge the divide in this time of social distancing while providing a convenience to both patrons and restaurateurs.
“As consumers, we have all felt the pinch of rapid increases in the prices that we pay for food delivery. We know there is a better, fairer way for everyone involved – the restaurants who provide the food and their employees; the delivery teams who do the work of sending the food to consumers; and consumers themselves. EATLOKAL is a community focused effort disruptors from Malaysia’s digital landscape who aim to improve the quality of service, pricing and approach to food delivery services while supporting and protecting our local restaurants, cafes and other food outlets who are working hard to stay open for us,”
Stephen P Francis, CEO of EATLOKAL
EatLokal is teaming up with independent motorcycle delivery teams, private delivery operators and Socar to get the goodies delivered. Socar will be playing a vital role in mobilizing cars as a delivery option.
The service is available in early access on the Apple App Store, GooglePlay Store and also on the internet via their webiste EatLokal.com. They are serving areas across Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, Bangsar, Damansara, Hartamas, Mont Kiara, Tropicana, Bandar Utama, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Sunway, Subang Jaya, USJ and their surrounding areas. EatLokal has already teamed up with favourite neighbourhood eateries such as YMT Healthy Vegetarian, W1 Dining & Cocktails, Concubine KL, Asian Rice Pot, The Locker & Loft and The Accidental Bakers. EatLokal is now limiting the delivery radius to a 5 km radius from the outlet. However, they are continually expanding.
WhatsApp introduced their dark mode to their smartphone apps late last year. If you have switched your app to dark mode, good for you. If you have not, you should take a look and maybe never look back. As the saying goes; “once you go black, you’ll never go back”. Before you say anything, we are not implying any racist jokes, it is a sensitive time, we are merely referring to the endless ‘dark mode’ tweaks that have been making its way to smartphones. Going dark is the trend these days anyway.
There is a benefit of going for dark mode in your smartphone apps, other than looking cool and sleek. You get better battery life because black colour consumes less power on your smartphones’ displays. This is especially true for LED based displays. There is a small issue with the Android version of the app though – it is not exactly black. Instead, you get a shade of navy and grey.
Dark mode also helps when you just woke up and look at your smartphone first. It does not blind you or strain your eyes. There is a reason why Blue Light filters make your whites look a little more yellow. White colour strains your eyes quite badly especially indoors and in darker situations. It somehow signals your brains that it is still daylight too when you have white backgrounds on your smartphones, and you read at night.
Somehow, dark mode allows you to have a better time reading on your backlit displays too. You are able to read for longer periods without getting a headache. Again, this may have plenty to do with Blue Lights and better contrasts.
Back to WhatsApp. Ever since WhatsApp introduced dark mode in their smartphone app, the demand for dark mode stuff grew to other apps including Facebook. It even grew so much that people are asking for dark mode PC apps now too. Not only do they look more modern, they look cleaner somehow.
Yesterday is the day that Facebook finally gives what people want, a dark mode on WhatsApp Web and Desktop app. Let me start by saying it looks more like Telegram’s dark mode on your smartphone than anything. Telegram does not even have a dark mode on their web and desktop app. Given, there are more greens on WhatsApp.
It does look more modern and cleaner though. The fonts turn white and the backgrounds are different shades of grey, not exactly black. It somehow transforms the WhatsApp experience. Suddenly WhatsApp does not look like WhatsApp that we knew anymore.
Still, we are digging the new look and will keep this look. Plus, it is still less straining to the eyes. For you to change your WhatsApp Web or Desktop app to dark mode, you just need to get to settings and click on the “theme” option to turn on the inner darkness. Now, on to Facebook’s dark mode on their app.
The whole COVID-19 situation has made 2020 a little bit of a write off. There are at least a few things that made 2020 look a little better, some positivity. We now realise that we can be productive at home, we save a little bit more money and become a little more healthy by not eating out, prices of petrol goes down, we get our own little 1m bubble of personal space, and best of all – free data.
By now, everyone would have known that you can claim 1GB of free data daily from the major operators like Maxis, Digi, Celcom, UMobile, and Unifi Mobile. There are limitations to that though. The 1GB of data only applies from 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. in the evening.
1GB of data may not sound like much at first. Start using them for just emails and sharing documents and even get on a messenger app though and you might be pleasantly surprised. Without watching Netflix, YouTube, stream at high-quality with Spotify, or downloading games, 1GB is way more than enough. 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. is also the usual working time for the average Malaysian. So the time limit made plenty of sense. At least that was the case until June 2020.
From the 1st of July, 2020l; which was yesterday, all the way until 31st December 2020, users of the major telecommunication operators get to enjoy the 1GB of free data daily for 24 hours instead of a restricted time of the day. That also means you get about 30GB of free data in the week.
If your home is equipped with its own internet, you would find that 30GB is a little too much to spend. We wonder how some people can have 60GB of data and still not have enough. Still, we like free things and so we will gladly take it with open arms. For more information regarding this new policy, you can head over to your telco’s websites. No, it is not too late to switch over telco too; we did not mention which to which.
