Category Archives: News

Android, Mobile, News

The realme 6i Launches in Malaysia With MYR 699 Starting Price Tag!

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Smartphones have gone quite crazy these days. If you think about it, there are not many smartphones that you can buy at MYR 1,000. Thing is though, there are plenty of people that still does not want to or cannot spend above MYR 1,000 for a new smartphone.

In that space, there are even less players. Most established brands in the smartphone industry has gone above the MYR 1,000 line. That leaves only certain players staying in that market space. One of the most prominent one that kept within that line is Realme.

While the price range does not make it sound like a premium brand, they do make some compelling smartphones. Their realme 6 that just launched about a month ago for example, gives you best in class performance but at the same time has an asking price that is easily reachable for almost anyone who is looking for a smartphone. Today, they introduced another one, the realme 6i.

Source: realme

The first thing they teased, not teased, what was the right word? Rendered. They rendered two colours on offer for the Realme 6i – Green Tea and White Milk. But that is not all they are, they are not just pretty things. They pack some power too.

It is even more powerful than the Realme 6. It packs a MediaTek Helio G80 Octa-core System on a Chip (SoC) that clocks up to 2.0GHz. That is MediaTek’s most powerful SoC to date, and realme 6i is the first device to boast this kind of flagship power from MediaTek. You get up to 4GB of RAM with the SoC too, meaning multitasking should be no issue. You get up to 128GB

Out the back is a 48-Megapixel main camera that is supported by three other lenses, very much like any modern realme. You get an ultra-wide lens, a black and white lens, and a macro lens together with the 48-Megapixel main camera. They did not specify the amount of megapixel the other lenses pack though. Out the front is a 16-Megapixel camera for selfies. There is no telephoto lens here, which is a little out of the ordinary. Thing is, black and white lens does help with detailing on your final photo though. All this power and high-resolution photo are pushed to your eyes through a 6.5-inch Full HD+ display with a small notch on top of the display.

To ensure that you can take photos all day long or even play games all day long or at the very least stay connected to the world for a whole day, the realme 6i packs a large battery. Larger than usual at 5,000 mAh. That is also one of the largest you can find in smartphones in its class. That 5,000 mAh battery can be charged at 18W fast charger. It can also charge your friend’s smartphone if your friends need some extra power. Now you can be your friend’s hero.

Source: realme

The Realme 6i is available in two colour variants, as mentioned earlier. It will be available in Green Tea and White Milk colour variants. The Realme 6i will be available from MYR 699 (3GB + 64GB) and MYR 899 (4GB + 128GB). From the 23rd of April onward, the 3GB RAM and 64GB storage variant of the Realme 6i will be available exclusively on Shopee. If you do get your device on first sale date, you can get your device at MYR 599. The 4GB + 128GB variant will be available two days later on the 25th of April 2020 in all Realme authorised dealers and retailers. For more information, you might want to check out their website.

iOS, Mobile, News

Apple Stuns with New iPhone SE Prices Start at only MYR1,999

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Apple has announced the latest addition to their iPhone line up, the new iPhone SE. Yep. It’s not the iPhone SE 2 or the iPhone SE 2020, the company has simplified things by just naming it the iPhone SE. The new affordable iPhone will be replacing the iPhone 8 which will be halting sales after the new smartphone hits stores.

Apple hasn’t compromised much when it comes to the new iPhone SE. The company is packing it with some of the latest technology that comes with iPhone 11 series; making the new SE one of the most feature packed offerings in the market for its price point.

The iPhone SE comes with the new A13 Bionic processor that the company launched with its iPhone 11. The SE also comes in a familiar package retaining the iPhone 8’s design and chassis. That’s not all that it retains, it also brings back the home button and Touch ID sensor that Apple’s iPhone flagships have done away with since the iPhone X. The iPhone SE is also smaller overall. It comes with 4.7-inch Retina HD display with True Tone which allows for a more comfortable experience with the smartphone. It has a resolution of 750 x 1334 pixels in a familiar 16:9 aspect ratio. The phone also comes with Haptic Touch which enables the Quick Actions functionality in iOS.

On the camera front, the iPhone SE comes with a single 12-megapixel sensor. The sensor has an f/1.8 aperture and is equipped with a wide angle lens. Apple is touting the SE’s single sensor camera as one of the best on an iPhone yet. It enables some of the most used camera features nowadays such as Portrait mode with Apple’s six Portrait Lighting effects and Depth Control using the Neural Engine of A13 Bionic processor. This also translates to the front camera of the iPhone SE. The single, 7-megapixel sensor is able to take portrait pictures using machine learning and also what Apple calls monocular depth estimation. The main camera supports 4K UHD video recording of up to 60 frames per second (fps) while the front facing camera supports up to 1080p.

The SE will be running iOS 13 out of the box and will also be able to support augmented reality (AR) experiences available on apps in the Apple App Store. It also supports eSIM and dual SIM functionality.

Pricing & Availability

The iPhone SE will be go on pre-order starting from 5 a.m. on April 17, 2020. It will be available in stores and via carrier partners starting April 24, 2020 in the U.S. an in 40 other countries.

Source: Apple

It will be retailing at USD$399 for the 64GB version, USD$449 for the 128GB version and USD$549 for the 256GB version. The iPhone SE will be available in White, Black and (PRODUCT)RED. Proceeds from the sale of the (PRODUCT)RED version of the iPhone SE will contribute directly to the Global Fund to combat COVID-19.

No official availability has been announced for Malaysia just yet. However, the iPhone SE is listed on Apple Malaysia’s Website. The official Pricing in Malaysia is as follows:

64GB128GB256GB
MYR 1,999MYR 2,199MYR2,699
Official iPhone SE Prices in Malaysia
Business, Health, News

Apple & Google Help Battle COVID-19 with Contact Tracing Technology

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The COVID-19 pandemic has been taking the world by storm. It has had an unprecedented affect on every country in the world and the world economy. The world is also beginning to realise the value of front liners such as doctors, nurses, scientists and janitors. That said, Google and Apple and lending a hand in fighting the pandemic by working together.

The companies announced a joint effort to help with the current pandemic. The effort comes in the form an APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) which will help with contact tracing. Contact tracing is becoming increasingly more important in the battle against COVID-19 to help with the mitigation of the viral spread. Countries which have started or have been doing contact tracing have shown better disease control in the current pandemic.

Apple and Google are looking to assist with Contact Tracing by using Bluetooth on smartphones. The APIs will work with together with operating system level technology to allow the tracking of potential spread of COVID-19. Essentially, authorised applications will be able to use Bluetooth on both iOS and Android smartphones to help identify individuals who have potentially come in contact with infected individuals. As of right now, it seems like these APIs will be made available to government and public health agencies to help mitigate the spread of the pandemic.

Apple and Google have both stressed that user privacy, transparency and security will be central to the development of these APIs. They are looking into broader, more robust applications of the APIs being developed which allow more individuals to participate, should they choose to via an opt-in. These broader application are being explored in consultation with other interested stakeholders. The effort comes after a number of public health authorities, universities and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) around the world kick started an effort to develop opt-in contact tracing technology.

The APIs and its functionality will be rolled out in stages given the dire need for contact tracing in the current pandemic. The initial stage will be the rollout of the APIs in May which will enable interoperability between the mobile platforms. Official apps using these APIs will be available in the Google Play and Apple App Stores. After this, Google and Apple will be working to enhance and enable broader Bluetooth based contact tracing enabling more robust applications. The companies have stated that they will be openly publishing information their work to be analyzed by others during this process.

Android, Mobile, News

The OnePlus 8 Series is Launched!

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Last night was a special night. Last night (it is night in Malaysia, morning or daytime in wherever the OnePlus was launched) was the big launch of OnePlus’ highly anticipated follow up to the OnePlus 7 line-up. It is the launch night of the OnePlus 8 series. 

The OnePlus 7 series was something quite special to us. We like it a lot. Then again, we have always liked the OnePlus brand. We loved the OnePlus 7T, launched later in the year is a big reinforcement of the OnePlus 7.  

The OnePlus 7 Pro was also the first time we praised its camera when we tested it last year. For the first time, we liked the photo quality from a OnePlus. We think that that could be thanks to some expertise borrowed from OPPO. I doubt that they will give credits to OPPO for that though. 

The OnePlus 8 then, the replacement to the OnePlus 7 series. They start with the display of the device. On the older OnePlus 7, they pushed boundaries with 90Hz in refresh rate. This year, after OPPO’s Find X2 launch, we suspected that the OnePlus 8 series will get the same sort of display. We guessed right on that one. It even has the same punch hole that fits a front-facing camera. Yes, they are ditching the pop-up mechanism as well. That also means that it is an IP68 rated device now. 

Source: OnePlus

It is a 6.7-inch 120Hz QHD+ display, exactly same as the OPPO. It also boast 10-bit format display which produces 10-billion colours on the OnePlus 8 Pro. That 120Hz refresh rate is also paired to 240Hz in sampling rate. We loved the display on the OPPO Find X2 (review coming soon). It is ultra-responsive, ultra-smooth, and very beautiful. I personally used it for PlayStaion Remote Play for Death Stranding, and we can really appreciate its colours and resolution. 

Then comes the camera, they fit a bigger camera this time too. It is a 48-Megapixel main camera that is flanked by another 48-Megapixel ultra-wide angle lens on the side. Yes, it is sounding like the OPPO Find X2 Pto. It even has Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) to pair with. In that case also, you can expect this smartphone to impress your eyes with its photos. 

Source: OnePlus

You also get the ultra-powerful, ultra-snazzy Qualcomm Snapdragon 865. Paired to the Snapdragon 865 is 12GB of RAM for even smoother and better multitasking. That is sort of where the similarities between the OnePlus 8 Pro and OPPO Find X2 Pro ends though. 

Videos can go up to 4K. But this time, you get audio Zoom as well and 3D audio capture so you can add some dynamics to your videos. Smartphone videos have come a long way and some film makers are already starting to use smartphones in their arsenal of tools. Take us for example. 

There is a new haptic feedback machine that is designed to give you more immersion during gaming. That is different from the OPPO’s haptic feedback vibration engine. It also has a wireless charging capability. Its 4,510 mAh battery is VOOC FlashCharge capable too, but you can wirelessly charge the OnePlus 8 Pro at 30W, fastest ever on a wireless charger so far. It even reverse charges other wirless charging devices. 

Source: OnePlus

Other things that the device comes with are software based. You can do Live Captioning with audio and video recording, which is something else really. That is also thanks to OnePlus working with Google. In that collaboration as well, you get to take advantage of Google’s extra 100GB space of Google Drive for you. You can also access to selected Stadia titles on your OnePlus. Time to spend on a decent controller for your smartphone. It is also Amazon Alexa compatible should you prefer the Amazon based assistant. 

Then there is the OnePlus 8, the regular one. It is just a slightly smaller version of the OnePlus 8 Pro. It packs the same Sony IMX586 sensor that pushes 48-Megapixel. Paired to it though is a 16-Megapixel ultra-wide camera. That is also supported by a Macro lens at the other side. It has a smaller display too, at 8.55-inch. The 8.55-inch is not a 120Hz display though. It is a 90Hz Fluid display that we saw on last year’s OnePlus. That also means that it is a Full HD+ display instead of a QHD+. Still a nice display though. 

Instead of the 4,510mAh battery you get on the Pro variant, it makes do with a 4,300mAh battery. It is a smaller smartphone after all. At least you still get the 30W wireless charging capability. Both OnePlus 8 devices also support 5G out of the box, which is nice.  

  • Source: OnePlus
  • Source: OnePlus
  • Source: OnePlus
  • Source: OnePlus
  • Source: OnePlus

The OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro is available in three colour choices. One of which is called Interstellar White, which is claimed by OnePlus to be a pain for photoshoots. No, not its camera, it is a pain to other cameras because apparently it does not stay in the same colour in all sorts of angles. That is not good for us. But still, we might like it.  

The OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro will be available in selected markets April 2020 onward. The regular OnePlus 8 will set you back US$ 699 (MYR 3,028*) for the 8GB + 128GB variant, and US$ 799 (MYR 3,462*) for the 12GB + 256Gb variant. The OnePlus 8 Pro will set you back US$899 (MYR 3,895*) for the 8GB + 128GB variant and US$ 999 (MYR 4,329*) for the 12GB + 256GB variant. There are no word yet on when that device will reach Malaysia. If the OnePlus 7 series is any indication though, we are guessing that the distributor will start selling the OnePlus 8 by May 2020 onward. We can only wait though. 

*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.33 as of 15/4/2020

Business, Gaming, News

Gaming Studio, Double Eleven, Expands to Malaysia

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If you are a gamer, it’s more than likely you already know who Double Eleven is. If you don’t, they are one of the UK’s largest game development studios. Yep, game development. They have produced a number of games including the Pixel Junk series on the PC, Goat Simulator on Xbox and Playstation) and the LEGO Harry Potter series.

“Malaysia’s high calibre talent and its great ecosystem between governments, universities and businesses are among key reasons for our entry. We’re excited to be taking our people first approach with this expansion and tapping into Malaysia’s highly capable local talents, hoping to become an integrated and active member of their burgeoning games industry,”

Lee Hutchinson, founder and CEO of Double Eleven

As the next step in their expansion, the studio has recently established an office in Bangsar South, Malaysia. Recruitment for the studio is currently ongoing. However, Double Eleven has officially opened its studios in Malaysia with the appointment of Ian Ng as the Studio Head of Double Eleven Malaysia. Ian Ng brings over 20 years of experience in game development. Previously, Ian worked at studios such as Tap4Fun, Ubisoft Singapore and LucasArts. He has been credited in a number of gaming titles including the Assassin’s Creed Franchise.

“I look forward to building a studio that embodies the same culture and values as the Double Eleven studio in the United Kingdom. After a number of years working in Bangkok and Singapore, I’m excited to make a positive impact on the fast-growing games industry in my home country of Malaysia”.

Ian Ng, Studio Head of Double Eleven
Kuala Lumpur

The studio has been around since 2009 and was a Sony exclusive studio until 2012. The company has now grown and is expanding their global footprint to support more development. Having worked on big titles such as Little Big Planet Vita and the PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the popular platformer LIMBO, the studio is now developing the popular game, Rust, for consoles, co-developing Minecraft Dungeons with Mojang and working with Paradox on Prison Architect.

“Malaysia has developed a vibrant and successful digital creative content industry over the past 15 years, with numerous international companies choosing to set up studios here. The current focus on realising the Digital Content Ecosystem Policy (DICE) reinforces Malaysia as the Heart of Digital ASEAN for animation and games content development.”

Hasnul Hadi Samsudin, Vice President, Digital Creative Content, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)

The establishment of Double Eleven’s new Malaysian studio comes after the announcement of Sony Interactive Worldwide and Lariat’s announcements late last year at the LEVEL UP Gaming conference in Kuala Lumpur. Double Eleven joins a growing number of game developers who are using Malaysia as a launch platform for their Asian presence. Malaysia’s government announced their Digital Content Ecosystem Policy which was spearheaded by the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and the Ministry of Technology. The new policy aims to make Malaysia the “Heart of Digital ASEAN”.

Gaming, News

Meet DualSense, Your PlayStation 5 Controller

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Sony has unveiled the final design for the upcoming PlayStation 5 controllers. The first thing to take note of: it’s not the DualShock 5. Sony is renaming its controllers to DualSense; and for good reason. The new controllers are pioneering new features we’ve not seen in any DualShock controller of the past. In fact, we may have not even seen them on any XBox or Nintendo controller to date.

The aesthetics of PlayStation controller of the past is also out the window with DualSense. The new DualSense controllers will now come with a two tone finish. A change that we are excited about. The new two tone finish puts a rather futuristic finish on what was once a drab single tone coloured design. However, we’ve seen Sony toy around with this idea in some of the later editions of the DualShock 4 controllers.

“DualSense marks a radical departure from our previous controller offerings and captures just how strongly we feel about making a generational leap with PS5. The new controller, along with the many innovative features in PS5, will be transformative for games – continuing our mission at PlayStation to push the boundaries of play, now and in the future. To the PlayStation community, I truly want to thank you for sharing this exciting journey with us as we head toward PS5’s launch in Holiday 2020. We look forward to sharing more information about PS5, including the console design, in the coming months.”

Jim Ryan, President & CEO, Sony Interactive Entertainment

Of course, aesthetics aside, we know that Sony is focusing on the gamer experience when it comes to the PlayStation 5. In fact, the company explained, at length, the technology in the PS5 which includes a new focus on audio called Tempest 3D AudtioTech. The same considerations for immersive gaming came into play with designing the PS5’s DualSense controllers. The new controllers will be the first from Sony to feature haptic feedback. The adoption of haptic feedback technology will allow developers to enhance the gaming experience by increasing the level of detail when it comes to touch. Sony touts the grittiness of driving a car through mud as one of the examples.

In addition, Sony has also brought some change to the design of the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controllers. The L2 and R2 buttons will also have adaptive technology. Sony’s new adaptive triggers will allow developers to program finer details into the triggers. Resistance and perhaps multi stop functionality will probably come with the adaptive triggers. The angle of the triggers have also been adjusted for better ergonomics and to make space for the many components of the controller.

Sony has also replaced the Share button with a “Create” button. Sony claims that they are “…once again pioneering new ways for players to create epic gameplay content to share with the world..”. However, they didn’t elaborate on what they meant – yet. Sony has also included a built in mic array to make it easier for gamers to communicate. That said, the company said that the feature shouldn’t replace a proper gaming headset in the long term.

The new DualSense controller also features a redesign which takes the traditional DualShock design and throws it out the window. Gone are the rounded tops with conical protrusions. Instead, Sony has opted to go with a more boomerang like design that looks more ergonomic than previous designs. The company also reassures us that the controller is smaller than it looks. Another major change is the placement of the lightbar. Instead of being front and centre like the DualShock 4, the lightbar is now flanking the touchpad on either side. Smaller details such as the analogue control design has also been changed. According to PushSquare Sony has changed the analogue sticks to have a textured outer rim with a smoothed center section.

Overall, the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller builds upon the successful base of the DualShock 4. It also holds Sony’s intention of pushing “the boundaries of play” when it comes to their new console. The PS5 is set to launch later this year. To be specific – during Holiday 2020.

News

5 Ways You Can Curate Netflix for Your Kids with Enhanced Parental Controls

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An increasing number of homes are beginning to cut the cord and depend more on streaming platforms such as Netflix for their everyday entertainment. It’s a trend that many streaming apps are reporting and it is, unsurprisingly, gaining momentum even in places like Malaysia. That said, with such a wide library of content now available at everyone’s finger tips, it can become a worrisome affair for parents.

1. PROFILE It

Netflix has, over the years, introduced steps and features to help parents stay on the ball. One of the first features borne out of the need to guard against children accessing mature content is the now staple profiles.

Setting up a specific profile for the kids in the family allowed parents to keep an eye on the content being consumed. In fact, parents can ensure that only child-friendly content appears in their kids’ profile. Creating a profile on Netflix will make sure that settings, preferences and recommended shows are individualized. In this case, it would also keep more mature shows out of your kids’ profile.

2. Cu-RATE it

Creating a profile is just the first step. You also need to setup age limitations when it comes to the profile. Netflix has made this a little easier with the “Allowed TV shows and movies” option when you set up a profile.

However, limiting your kids’ access based on general ratings may not be enough. I mean, Netflix can only filter so much. So, jump into the profile and get curating! Remove shows you feel are not suitable for your child and Netflix will begin to learn the boundaries you’re setting for your kid.

3. PIN It Up

We all know how kids are, they’re curious and they always want to test boundaries. The best way to enforce boundaries is to set them. There’s no better way in the Netflix app than by setting up PINs. Similar to your bank account, the PIN will block unwanted access to your account – in this case, your kids.

The little explorers will hit a wall asking for the PIN should they find themselves any other profile on the app. So, you can rest at ease while you’re attending to chores and work.

4. Re-VIEW it

If you’re still a tad bit uneasy with what your kids have been watching, you don’t have to worry. Netflix has introduced a “viewing activity” section for profiles. Using this option, you’ll be able to see keep an eye on what your child has been watching. You can then go back and remove any shows that you feel are inappropriate from the list.

5. Play Next Episode? No Thank You!

We all know Netflix has a tendency to encourage binge watching shows. However, we know that too much screen time is no good for the kids – even Netflix. So, they’ve introduced an option to turn off the “Play Next Episode” option on profiles. In fact, they’ve even introduced a feature to turn off previews from playing after the show.

So, you can literally tell your kids, “This is the last one” and rest easy knowing that Netflix isn’t going to play the next episode.

Some of the steps in the list feature enhanced parental control features which have recently made their way to the Netflix app. However, a majority of them have been there since Netflix’s humble beginnings. Keep an eye out for more tips and tricks as the company rolls out more features.

Editorial, News, techENT Download, Video

techENT Download || The Fight Against COVID-19 is Real! Oh, and HUAWEI’s P40 series is finally in Malaysia!

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Last week, a few interesting happened in tech. While most has to do with the COVID-19 development and fight, there were a few new interesting products too. For one, the long-awaited HUAWEI P40 series makes Malaysian debut in the week. There are only two variants currently though – the standard HUAWEI P40 and the HUAWEI P40 Pro. The HUAWEI P40 Pro+ is, as touted, coming way later. Prices start from MYR 2,799 and you can already pre-order the devices on HUAWEI’s website and Lazada until the 10th April 2020. Alongside that is the HUAWEI MatePad Pro that was announced a little over a month ago. Malaysia is currently only getting one variant of it though (8GB + 256GB). You can also pre-order them now at MYR 2,399. The flagship smartphone and tablet will start shipping from the 11th of April 2020. Of course, if you pre-order, you get more HUAWEI exclusive stuff from HUAWEI too.

There were some new notebook PCs that is supposed to arrive in the market sometime later this year too. The 10th Generation Intel Core processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX SUPER equipped notebook PCs break cover. So many of them at the same time; there are some from ASUS, from Acer, from Lenovo, and from MSI. The most expensive we have seen so far is the MSI GS66 stealth at up to MYR 16,000.

Back on the topic of COVID-19, the world is focused at, not only in treating the disease, but also coping with the quarantine and helping the front liners. We have the #VentilatorChallengeUK that was answered by many private conglomerates in the region including Formula 1 teams. At the same time, plenty are taking advantage of the situation. So, we all must do our parts and be careful.

Lifestyle, News

MCO No Problem, Shopee’s 4.4 Got You Covered

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The whole Movement Control Order situation in Malaysia means that none of us can step out to get to work. Well, not all of us anyway. The essential services are still up and running. Services like restaurants, groceries, certain workshops, obviously clinics and hospitals; they are all running.

There is another service that is still running though. Something that we take for granted sometimes. That service is the delivery service. Without these guys, we would not have anything getting to us at these trying times.

That also means while you cannot go out to do your usual window shopping or casual shopping, you can still shop at home. In fact, tomorrow is Shopee’s 4.4 Brands Festival. While you cannot go out to shop, you can shop from Shopee in this case.

We all know that shopping online is sometimes better than going to the regular bricks and mortar shops. You get better deals, you do not have to step out of home, and you get your things delivered directly to you. At the same time, you get a plethora of choices when you go online shopping.

For Shopee’s 4.4 Brands Festival that has been going on from 20th March 2020 onward to 4th April 2020, you get even better deals than usual. The finale, that is happening tomorrow (4th April 2020) is the big one. You get even better deals than the deals that you are getting used to since 20th March 2020, especially for gadgets.

For us to list down and elaborate on everything is a little bit of a drag though. So, you can check out below for the full list of things that Shopee has in store for you. We are just going to give you highlights of the products we think is worth checking out.

Smartphones

There are some very interesting offers from Shopee for the Brand Festival here. We think that the best deal you might get here is the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite that retails for MR 2,699. For tomorrow only, you can get your hands on one for MYR 1,999. While he Oneplus 7T is very tempting with an MYR 400 discount for the 4th April 2020, the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite packs flagship like specs with just minor disadvantages compared to the likes of the Galaxy S20. From our review, we think that it is a stellar smartphone. The biggest issue we had with it is the price, which is remedied by Shopee at least.

Source: Samsung
ProductRRP (RM)4.4 Shopee Brands Festival Promo Price (RM)Product Link
Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite (G770) (8GB+128GB)26991999https://shopee.com.my/product/37587911/6016122249/
Samsung Galaxy A30s (A307) (4GB+64GB)899599https://shopee.com.my/product/37587911/2847886771/
Honor 20 (6GB + 128GB)1399999https://shopee.com.my/product/57745492/2231652236/
Vivo Y91c (2GB RAM + 32GB ROM)499369https://shopee.com.my/product/19049195/1989916208/
ONEPLUS 7T (HD1903) (8GB + 128GB)25992199https://shopee.com.my/product/33550146/3108298601/
Xiaomi Redmi 7A (2+32GB)399199https://shopee.com.my/product/56447030/5123300146/
OPPO A3s Smartphone (3GB RAM + 32GB ROM)899469https://shopee.com.my/product/12017474/1434720059/

Audio

Sometimes, your life is never really complete without good music accompanying you. Music is a big part of all our lives. Every season can be described with a tune. There are a few very interesting, very new products here including the Apple AirPods Pro that is selling for only MYR 999 tommorrow. We think that the winner here is the Audio-Technica ATH-M40X headphones though. Yes, you need to get an adapter for smartphones that does not come with 3.5mm jack. We still think that wired is the best way to enjoy your tunes at home though. From a retail price of MYR 560, it is now MYR 260; less than half the usual price. If that is not a good deal, we do not know what is.

Source: Audio-Technica
ProductRRP (RM)4.4 Shopee  Brands Festival Promo Price (RM)Product Link
Edifier TWS1 Bluetooth True Wireless Stereo Earphones29999https://shopee.com.my/product/16046076/2626377407/
Edifier W830BT Bluetooth Headphones499242https://shopee.com.my/product/16046076/1238424790/
Edifier R1280DB Bookshelf Speaker599269https://shopee.com.my/product/16046076/1241924819/
Marshall Kilburn I Black + Major III Headphones Black bundle17081025https://shopee.com.my/product/77679423/2626168812/
Apple AirPods Pro1119999https://shopee.com.my/product/73600336/7710052775/
Jabra Elite Active 65t True Wireless Earbuds Bluetooth899548https://shopee.com.my/product/53791796/1768944308/
Audio-Technica ATH-M40X Professional Monitor Headphones560260https://shopee.com.my/product/78735890/1332959933/

Wearables

In terms wearable items, we have been quite a loyalist to a certain brand. Not because we are fanboys over the brand. We just like the wearable products they produce. I doubt it is a secret that we think that Samsung’s wearable offerings in the market is the best one we have seen on Android devices. They are good value for money, since they are not sold at the price or the Garmins. The Tizen Wear OS is smooth, intuitive, simple to operate. Their battery life is always longer than what we can find on conventional Android wearable devices.

Source: Samsung

That is why we think that the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is a winner here. Which one in particular? That is really your preference. Aluminium tends to be lighter. Stainless steel has a nicer finish and quality feel to it. Durability wise, I think both are quite similar. It now depends on your budget and preference.

ProductRRP (RM)4.4 Shopee Brands Festival Promo Price (RM)Product Link
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 R830 40mm Bluetooth Smart Watch (Stainless Steel)1299899https://shopee.com.my/product/37587911/7301438884/
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 R830 40mm Bluetooth Smart Watch (Aluminium)999599https://shopee.com.my/product/37587911/5420277694/
HONOR Band 5i Color Screen Smart Wristband11995https://shopee.com.my/product/57745492/6220139707/
HONOR Magic Watch 2 46MM Smart Watch699615https://shopee.com.my/product/57745492/3211878312/

Camera

You might think that you do not need anything more than your own smartphone as a camera. In most cases, that can be true. Your smartphone cameras can do much these days that you start wondering; “why would you buy another separate camera”? We will tell you why tough.

Source: Insta 360

Purpose built cameras are built to a certain purpose. Like the action camera that we picked out of this box right here; the Insta360 G0 action camera. This is really great, you get a wide angle lens camera that you can stick to your shirt, strap on your head, or wherever you fancy really and it will not be a distraction because it is so small. Our good friend over in Philippines has one and she loves it.

ProductRRP (RM)4.4 Shopee Brands Festival Promo Price (RM)Product Link
Insta360 GO Flow State Action Camera745630https://shopee.com.my/product/5807617/7915179167/
DJI Ryze Tech Tello Quadcopter319287https://shopee.com.my/product/52209777/1639342718/
FUJIFILM INSTAX Mini 9 Instant Film Camera + 10sheets film220196https://shopee.com.my/product/64599831/2268133817/
SIPII SP200 Dual Channel Dashcam Front & Rear Dash Camera 1080p599450https://shopee.com.my/product/5807617/2720635186/

Accessories

When it comes to completing your devices, you always think of some accessories that would fit your lifestyle. It is hard to pick and choose here because everyone has different priorities and preferences in choosing what is right for them. For us, we might really go for the Xiaomi Mi Smart Robot Vacuum Cleaner just because it just helps with our work process. We just need to let it occasionally run around the office, clean it, and voila, you have a clean home or office.

Source: Shopee
ProductRRP (RM)4.4 Shopee Brands Festival Promo Price (RM)Product Link
Samsung Wireless Charger Pad 2019 P310515955https://shopee.com.my/product/3437289/3820526664/
Aukey PB-N42 Mini Power Bank (10000mAh)7929https://shopee.com.my/product/28077173/3817653125/
Anker A1241 PowerCore Nintendo Switch Edition 13400mah Power Bank349229https://shopee.com.my/product/148120148/5712799056/
Anker T2108 RoboVac 11S Slim Cleaner1399849https://shopee.com.my/product/148120148/2889129003/
Xiaomi Mi Smart Robot Vacuum Cleaner1299799https://shopee.com.my/product/2302204/4716943287/

There are plenty more deals from Shopee for the 4.4 Brands Festival. Acer, for example is giving out more than 25% in discounts and vouchers on Shopee. From their Shopee store, you get to own monitors from as low as MYR 233. Need 4K resolution? There is a 43-inch 4K display that is available for MYR 1,269 only on Shopee’s 4.4 Brands Festival. If you fancy a new work-from-anywhere notebook, the new Acer Swift 5 is offered with MYR 420 off its retail price.

All these are going to be on sale tomorrow on the 4th April 2020. From 12.00 a.m. to 2.00 a.m., you get to enjoy free shipping if you purchase more than MYR 8 worth of items. For the rest of the day, a minimum spend of MYR 16 will get you free shipping. For more information and other things, maybe even essentials, you can head over to Shopee’s website, or app. The Shopee app is available for free on both Android and iOS via the Google Play Store and Apple App Store respectively.

Computers, Gaming, News

Lenovo Legion to Add Two More in Their Line-up – Lenovo Legion 7i and Legion 5i

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We have always said that some of the best value for money PCs come from Lenovo. We say that because while they do not offer the best or the most powerful specs in that class of PCs, they always pack it with not only great build quality, but price them very reasonably. It also does not hurt that their keyboards are one of the best we have ever typed on when it comes to notebook PCs.

This value-for-money concept stretches from their business-line ThinkPads all the way to the gaming Lenovo Legion line. We especially like the Lenovo Legion Y700 and Y500 series. They keep things simple and honest. At the same time, they still offer great value and looks.

Source: Lenovo

This year though the Lenovo Legion Y500 and Y700 series is going to be joined by two newcomers, the 5i and 7i. To be fair, not much are known about the notebook PCs yet, but we can tell you that the Lenovo Legion 7i is coming in with 17-inch screen size and the 5i a 15-incher. We can also tell you that both notebook PC line-up will feature the latest 10th Generation Intel Core H-series processors. We are guessing the 7i will come with Intel’s most powerful and extreme Core i9.

The new series of notebook PCs will also come with NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX technology. The 5i will stop at the RTX 2060, presumably to fit a tighter budget. The Lenovo Legion 7i though will pack a Max-Q design NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER GPU.

Source: Lenovo

Gaming notebook PCs are known to be a battery drainer though. No matter the size of the battery, you might run out within 4 hours. That is if you do not game. By the looks of it, the Lenovo Legion 7i and 5i might not have that big of a battery though. Their design focuses more on portability and a thinner form factor. Thanks to an industry first NVIDIA Advanced Optimus technology though, you might get all-day battery life from the Lenovo Legion 7i and 5i. The technology is basically a GPU switch. You get the idea.

At this time, there are no word on availability in Malaysia just yet. Of course, we can safely say that the Lenovo Legion 7i and 5i are coming sometime this year. That said, the Lenovo Legion Y540 and Lenovo Legion Y740 are also getting a refresh of their own with 10th Generation Intel Core H-series and NVIDIA GeForce RTX SUPER cards. The Lenovo Legion 5i and Lenovo Legion Y540 will be available for US$ 999 (MYR 4,354*). The Lenovo Legion 7i and Lenovo Legion Y740 with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GPUs will be priced at US$ 1,199 (MYR 5,226*). More information can be found on their website.

*Based on approximate rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.36 as of 02/04/2020