Category Archives: News

Motorola debuts the Moto G54 alongside G84

Motorola is adding to their mid-range lineups with the release of two new devices, the Moto G54 and its unique variants in three different regions as well as the G84.

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China and India first to unique variations of the G54

Motorola initially announced the Moto G54 to be available in both China and India. However, both regions will be getting the same device with slightly different specifications. Both market variants do share the same key components. They are powered by a Snapdragon 695 processor with 8 GB of RAM with 128 GB of storage. They also have a 6.5-inch 120Hz display, 50MP rear camera and 16MP front camera.

For the China market, the Moto G54 comes with a 5000 mAh battery with 15W wired charging, is thinner at 8.04mm thickness and weighs 179.7 grams. The secondary camera module on the rear is a 2MP depth sensor. A unique feature is the finish on the back. The device comes with a vegan leather back available in 3 colors; blue, green and magenta. The Moto G54 is available in China today on Lenovo CN website for 1099 Yuan (~RM707).

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The Moto G54 available to India has a slight edge in hardware. It comes with a larger 6000 mAh battery with faster 33W wired charging, charger bundled together too. There is an option for a larger memory variant of 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. Perhaps the biggest difference lies in the processor, where it debuts the Mediatek Dimensity 7020 chipset in the Indian market. Additionally, the secondary rear camera module is also improved, with an 8MP ultrawide sensor.

With all this extra power, the Indian market variant of the Moto G54 is both thicker at 8.89mm, and heavier at 192 grams than its Chinese counterpart. While it may not have the vegan leather back, the rear plate is plastic with a glass-like finish, available in three colors; Mint Green, Pearl Blue, and Midnight Blue. The device is available today on the official Motorola India website, with prices starting at ₹15,999 (~RM900) for the 8GB RAM/128GB variant.

Moto G54 releases in Europe alongside the G84

Europe sees the debut of two devices from Motorola, with the Moto G54 and G84. The G54 variant in Europe is rather similar to the Chinese market variant. Powering the device is the Dimensity 7020 chipset with 8 GB of RAM with 256 GB of storage. It retains the 6.5-inch 120Hz display, 5000 mAh battery with 15W wired charging, 50 MP main camera and 2 MP macro shooter. It is available for €179 in four colors; Mint Green, Midnight Blue, Indigo Blue, and Glacier Blue.

Motorola G84 colors

The Moto G84 comes in slightly ahead of the G54 in the mid-range bracket for Motorola. It sports a more vibrant 6.5-inch pOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by the Snapdragon 695nm chipset supplemented with more RAM, 12GB specifically with 256GB storage. While it retains the 5000 mAh battery, it does have faster 30W wired charging. Cameras remain a 50MP main module and an 8MP ultrawide module on the rear.

And yes, the Moto G84 does come with the vegan leather back, this time with three color options; Midnight Blue, Marshmallow Blue and PANTONE™ Colour of the Year 2023 – Viva Magenta. The Moto G84 is available in Europe for a slightly higher price of €199 then the G54. Both the G54 and G84 are also now available in the UK for £179.99 and £249.99 respectively.

Sources: GSMArena 1, 2, Notebook Check

[VMware Explore 2023] VMware Brings Data-Driven AI Automation to the Workspace Experience

The landscape of work is evolving rapidly, and technology is at the forefront of this transformation. To navigate the complexities of hybrid work, VMware has unveiled a series of innovative AI integrations within its Anywhere Workspace platform, an integral part of the VMware Cross-Cloud services portfolio. These integrations leverage the power of data, intelligence, and automation to enhance employee experience, bolster vulnerability management, and streamline application lifecycle management. In essence, VMware Anywhere Workspace is designed to provide a seamless and secure workspace accessible from any device or location.

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Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

A Holistic Approach to Enhancing Employee Experience

VMware is a pioneer in harnessing data and automation to elevate the employee and IT experience. The latest enhancements include Insights and Playbooks that utilize expanded data sources and advanced machine learning algorithms to enhance the Digital Employee Experience (DEX). This broader access to data strengthens VMware Insights and enables more effective issue remediation.

One noteworthy addition is app performance scores, supplementing the existing experience scores for mobile devices, desktops, and virtual environments. This means that if a SaaS app experiences downtime, IT is immediately alerted, and employees are automatically informed, eliminating the need for cumbersome support tickets.

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But it’s not just about providing more data to IT; it’s about empowering them to work smarter. VMware’s AI-driven Insights now incorporate anomaly detection, identifying potential experience issues for frontline devices and VDI environments, in addition to mobile and desktop setups. This latest announcement introduces Playbooks, enabling IT to create step-by-step remediation workflows for efficient incident resolution. Success rate analytics automate the resolution process over time.

George March, Manager of Digital Workspace and Development at USA Health, praised Workspace ONE intelligence for streamlining lifecycle management and enhancing security. Their roadmap includes implementing the ITSM connector, and with the addition of remediation playbooks, they anticipate further streamlining their help desk support teams’ workflows.

Partnering for Security and Manageability

End-to-end manageability and security for distributed workforces are paramount. VMware recognizes the importance of collaboration with best-of-breed partners to achieve these goals. To this end, VMware has expanded its partnership with Intel to create a cloud-native integration of Workspace ONE with Intel vPro®. This integration enables secure and remote device management directly from the cloud, eliminating the need for additional on-premises infrastructure and management software.

With this integration, IT teams gain below-the-OS vulnerability insights for vPro-powered devices, enhancing security. It also provides centralized visibility into these devices, accelerating patch remediation cycles for devices beyond office perimeters, even when they are powered off. This results in improved security and compliance, with higher patch saturation and minimal disruption to employee productivity.

Simplifying Virtual Environments with Modern App Management

Managing and delivering applications across various virtual environments has grown increasingly complex. Silos of legacy tools have compounded inefficiencies. VMware has introduced Apps on Demand, powered by VMware App Volumes, to address this challenge. It unifies app management and intelligently deploys apps to published app hosts or non-persistent desktop environments based on real-time app usage.

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Moreover, VMware is expanding App Volumes support to deliver apps on demand to persistent virtual desktops. This automation of app delivery streamlines processes with remarkable compatibility and cost savings. VMware App Volumes is the only solution capable of delivering and managing apps across multiple virtual desktop and app deployments.

Boeing’s Remarkable Hybrid Work Transformation

Boeing, a global leader in aerospace, leverages VMware Workspace ONE to support its extensive global workforce. Comprising 140,000 employees across the globe, Boeing’s workforce plays a crucial role in developing, manufacturing, and servicing aerospace and defence products.

Recognized as a ‘Hybrid Workforce Innovator,’ Boeing has utilized VMware Anywhere Workspace to enable its employees to work from anywhere globally. This transformation has not only improved the user experience but has also fortified security for devices and applications.

Kristina Ross, Boeing Workplace Solutions Director for Research & Technology, emphasized that Workspace ONE has streamlined their transition to modern management, enhanced scalability, and shifted their focus from infrastructure to business-facing solutions.

Pudgy Penguins Is Blurring the Lines Between Digital Assets & Tangible Economic Opportunities

Pudgy Penguins is the latest hit in the NFT world. It’s closing the gap between digital collection and real-world business. It’s blending the tangible and intangible, making it more accessible and easier to monetize. They’ve created opportunities for NFT holders to get a tangible slice of physical merchandise sales bridging Web3 communities and technologies with the real world.

Pudgy Penguin & NFTs

NFT or Non-Fungible Tokens are digital assets that prove ownership through a publicly viewable ledger called a Blockchain.

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So how does this relate to the Pudgy Penguins? These Pudgy Penguins are 8,888 unique collectable Penguins that are linked to the Ethereum Blockchain. Each Penguin design comes with a unique identifier that is publicly listed in the Ethereum Blockchain and can be traced to the original artist. Using this, the company creates physical merchandise with the designs that are on the blockchain and the artists are paid royalties on their designs.

Backed by MDEC (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation) and Asia Huddle PLT, these waddling birds are officially making their Malaysian debut. You will start seeing Pudgy Penguins soft toys and collectables in retail stores such as FamilyMart, myNews, Bila Bila Mart, emart24 and CU Malaysia across the country. In conjunction with the launch, there will be a special three-day event called “Pudgy Boleh” which will showcase their journey from digital animations to toys and collectables.

Tangible Economic Opportunities from the Blockchain

Pudgy Penguins looks to unlock more economic opportunities through its Web3 ecosystem. This comes on the heels of a successful foray into the United States which proves that blockchain innovation can be blended into tangible business opportunities.  

With their launch in Malaysia, the company coordinated a special three-day event called “Pudgy Boleh” to showcase their works from digital photos to live cuddly toys.

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Cheryl Law, the Pudgy Penguins Business Development Lead of Asia, sees a great future for the company to grow and have a positive impact on Malaysian Businesses and companies. The sentiment is shared by CEO, Luca Netz. Luca believes that everyone should be able to have a bridge between real life and their digital presence. Using these commodities, everyone can contribute to Malaysians’ economic landscape through inclusivity and art. 

ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 OLED (UX6404) Available in Malaysia for MYR10,999

ASUS has taken the wraps off its latest gem, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 14 OLED (UX6404). This sleek and compact 14.5-inch laptop marks the zenith of the creator-friendly Zenbook Pro series, catering to the needs of users who demand sophistication, portability, and robust performance for their creative endeavours and productivity tasks.

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The ZenBook Pro 14 OLED comes with a 16:10 3K 120Hz OLED NanoEdge display, complete with Dolby Vision and HDR technology, which delivers an unparalleled visual experience. It’s PANTONE® Validated for colour accuracy and encompasses a cinematic 100% DCI-P3 gamut.

Under the hood, the Zenbook Pro 14 OLED is powered by the latest 13th Generation Intel® Core™ i9 H-series processor, coupled with studio-grade NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4070 graphics, a hefty 32 GB of high-speed DDR5 RAM, and a copious 1TB SSD.

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The ASUS DialPad which was once only available with the ProArt Line makes its ZenBook debut on the ZenBook 14 Pro OLED allowing more intuitive control within creative apps. The laptop boasts a full set of I/O ports, including Thunderbolt 4™ USB-C®, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C®, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, HDMI® 2.1, and an audio combo jack. Moreover, the laptop provides a top-tier audio experience, thanks to the Harman Kardon-certified Dolby Atmos® speaker system and ASUS AI noise-cancelling audio technology, ensuring crystal-clear conference calls.

Furthermore, the laptop supports the optional ASUS Pen 2.0, an MPP 2.0 stylus with 4096 pressure levels and interchangeable tips, offering an unparalleled drawing and writing experience.

To keep these powerful components cool, ASUS has implemented the highly efficient ASUS IceCool Pro cooling system, featuring a dual-fan design and four external exhaust vents. Additionally, the laptop features WiFi 6E enhanced with ASUS WiFi Master Premium technology, ensuring rock-solid WiFi connections.

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The ASUS ErgoSense keyboard, boasting a full-size 19.05 mm key pitch, 1.4 mm key travel, and 0.1 mm keycap relief, ensures a comfortable typing experience. Additionally, an anti-fingerprint and hydrophobic coating makes the ASUS ErgoSense touchpad easy to clean.

Pricing & Availability

The ASUS Zenbook Pro 14 OLED (UX6404V) is set to make its debut in Malaysia, starting on September 19, 2023, with a price tag of RM10,999.

It will be available through all authorized ASUS dealers and the official ASUS e-store.

Final Fantasy VII REBIRTH Comes to PlayStation5 on February 29, 2024

Final Fantasy VII REBIRTH stole the show during Sony’s recent PlayStation’s State of Play. The new trailer opens with all our beloved characters, Tifa, Cloud, Sephiroth and more continuing their adventures after the events of Final Fantasy VII remake.

The heart-pounding trailer gives us a glimpse of the open world that awaits us in the game with iconic characters like Cloud, Aerith, Barret, and Tifa. These unlikely heroes unite with new playable companions, including Yuffie, a nimble ninja from Wutai, Red XIII, a fiery-tailed beast offering sage advice, and Cait Sith, a witty feline-shaped robot perched atop a giant Moogle.

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Source: Square

We continue the pursuit of Sephiroth in Final Fantasy VII REBIRTH. We’re going to get to explore Midgar like never before while we track down the fallen SOLDIER before he creates more havoc. In Rebirth, we’ll guide these characters in thrilling battles, utilizing powerful synergy abilities that strengthen their bonds. As we traverse a vast, vibrant world brimming with opportunities for exploration, classic locales reimagined in stunning detail await. From what Square has teased in its press release, we can expect hours of side content, engaging mini-games, and captivating side stories that delve into the rich tapestry of this world’s inhabitants.

Producer Yoshinori Kitase emphasized, “FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH can be enjoyed on its own as a standalone adventure.” This means players new to the series can dive right in without feeling lost. For those eager to deepen their understanding of the narrative, a recap of the previous game will be available to provide context and backstory.

FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH - Release Date Announce Trailer

From what we can gather, it looks like the second instalment will take players all the way to the middle of the original’s plot. Naoki Hamaguchi, the director, enthusiastically shares, “Cloud and his friends, who have fled Midgar, will be setting out on an adventure across an expansive world of untold adventure in pursuit of Sephiroth, the legendary SOLDIER.” He underlines the game’s emphasis on “free exploration” with compelling stories, delightful mini-games, formidable monsters, and much more across the world map, promising nearly 100 hours of captivating adventure.

Pricing & Availability

Pre-orders for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth are now open on the PlayStation Store. The game will be available in a number of editions both physical and digital. The game will officially be released on February 29, 2023 on PlayStation 5.

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Physical Editions

These come on two game discs and include a reversible cover along with the digital Midgar Bangle Mk. II armour as a pre-order bonus at select retailers. The standard edition will set you back USD$69.99. The Deluxe edition will be retailing for USD$99.99 and come with a mini-soundtrack CD, an artbook and a steel book case.

The Collector’s Edition will come with a large, highly detailed statue of Sephiroth, in-game items: the Reclaimant Choker accessory, the Orchid Bracelet and Summoning Materia which allows you to summon the Moogle Trio and the Magic Pot. This comes in addition to all the freebies from the Deluxe Edition. It will retail for USD$349.99.

Digital Editions

Digital Editions of the game come with the Moogle Trio summoning Materia. The standard edition will set you back USD$69.99.

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The digital deluxe edition comes with the digital Mini-soundtrack, digital artbook, and DLC items like the Magic Pot Summoning Materia, Reclaimant Choker accessory, and Orchid Bracelet armour. This content can be purchased separately for USD$20.00 to upgrade your standard edition.

Twin Packs

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will also be available in a physical twin pack with Final Fantasy VII REMAKE INTERGRADE for USD$99.99. The full game of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade will be available for download upon preorder.

The Digital Deluxe Twin Pack will include both games and all the content for the Digital Deluxe Edition. This will retail for USD$119.99.

Intel Unveils Thunderbolt 5: Higher Speed, Faster Charging & Next Generation Standards

Intel has officially taken the wraps off Thunderbolt 5, the next generation of its renowned Thunderbolt connectivity technology. In a demonstration that showcased a prototype laptop and dock, Intel highlighted the remarkable improvements in speed and bandwidth that Thunderbolt 5 promises to bring to the world of computing.

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Source: Intel

With content creators, gamers, and professionals demanding ever-increasing bandwidth, Thunderbolt 5 is ready to meet these high demands. Whether it’s high-resolution displays, low-latency visuals, or handling larger video and data files, Thunderbolt 5 is engineered to provide the performance and bandwidth needed for these modern computing needs.

The new standard is poised to deliver an impressive 80 gigabits per second (Gbps) of bi-directional bandwidth, and with its Bandwidth Boost feature, it can provide a whopping 120 Gbps, offering an unparalleled display and data experience. This substantial leap provides up to three times more bandwidth than existing connectivity solutions, ensuring that users enjoy superior display quality and lightning-fast data connections.

Thunderbolt 5 builds upon Thunderbolt 4 and is designed to be fully compatible with previous Thunderbolt versions and USB4 V2 standards. This ensures users can seamlessly integrate Thunderbolt 5 into their existing setups without compatibility concerns.

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Source: Intel

Intel isn’t the only one behind Thunderbolt 5. Industry leaders like Microsoft and Apple are also collaborators in developing this new technology. This also means that it’s compatible with Windows-based systems as well as Macs. Both Windows and Mac users can also benefit from the lightning-fast speeds and connectivity Thunderbolt 5 offers.

Intel’s Thunderbolt 5 controllers, codenamed Barlow Ridge, are expected to power computers and accessories starting in 2024. However, Thunderbolt 4 will continue to serve users who don’t require the extreme bandwidth that 5 delivers.

Stay tuned for the arrival of Thunderbolt 5 in 2024, and get ready to experience a new era of lightning-fast, high-bandwidth connectivity.

The iPhone Camera Just Got Better with the Blackmagic Camera App

Blackmagic Design, the company behind the popular video editing software DaVinci Resolve, has just announced a new app: the “Blackmagic Camera” app for iPhones. What’s even more exciting? It’s absolutely free.

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This app transforms your iPhone into a powerhouse for shooting professional-grade videos, giving you the feeling of working with top-tier camera equipment. The app brings powerful manual controls we’re used to seeing on high-end cameras to your fingertips.

So, what does this app bring to the table?

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Blackmagic Camera empowers you with a plethora of manual controls, including shutter speed, ISO, white balance, and tint. You can even effortlessly switch between different lenses, frame rates, stabilization levels, and focus settings. The interface also houses essential features like recording parameters, histograms, focus peaking, levels, and more, making it a one-stop shop for videographers.

On top of that, the app brings the ability to record horizontal 16:9 video while holding your iPhone vertically. This discreet shooting option opens up new creative possibilities. Moreover, the app allows you to add metadata to simplify post-production tasks. If you’re an iPhone 15 Pro user, you’ll appreciate the compatibility with the new Log colour profile, ensuring top-notch video quality.

The app seamlessly integrates with DaVinci Resolve and Blackmagic Cloud. This means you can effortlessly sync your videos with these professional editing tools. However, you also have the flexibility to save your videos to the Photos app, share them with other apps, or store them on an external SSD.

Pricing & Availability

The Blackmagic Camera app is readily available for download on the App Store, and it won’t cost you a dime.

To unlock its full potential, all you need is an iPhone XR or a newer model running iOS 16 or later. It’s important to note that certain features, such as the Log colour profile, are exclusive to specific iPhone models due to hardware limitations.

Atomicwork Launches with $11M Funding to Enhance Employee Support with AI

Atomicwork, a startup focused on improving the employee experience at work, has emerged from stealth mode with an $11 million seed funding round. Blume Ventures and Matrix Partners spearheaded the funding round, backed by Storm Ventures, Neon Fund, and notable angel investors.

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For those who are not familiar with the startup scene, ‘stealth mode’ means that a startup company is launched with a certain level of confidentiality. Certain information about the business or products are usually kept confidential from competitors. 

Leverages AI to enhance employee experience

In a world where remote and office work coexist, Atomicwork deploys artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline employee interactions with various daily tools. The platform seamlessly integrates with platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams. It also utilise conversational intelligence to automate support, service delivery, and operations on a large scale.

Atomicwork’s AI assistant, Atom, uses company processes and shared knowledge to help employees without human intervention. It aims to make things smoother for both employees and companies.

During their stealth phase, the Atomicwork team conducted a survey of leaders from mid-market businesses and large corporations. They found that 80% of the bosses were dissatisfied with their company’s worker experience. This has negatively impacting employee morale and productivity.

According to Atomicwork, this aligns with the 2022 industry studies from Willis Towers Watson (also known as WTW). The WTW study reveals that 92% of employers across sectors expressed intentions to invest in their employee experience over the next 3 years.

Aims to improve efficiency and productivity

Vijay Rayapati, CEO and Co-Founder of Atomicwork, highlighted that the company wants to help businesses provide a better employee experience with efficiency. Businesses can shift from just supporting employees to making them successful, aligning their productivity with business goals.

Atomicwork Founders

Founded in September 2022 by Vijay Rayapati, Kiran Darisi, and Parsuram Vijayasankar, Atomicwork boasts a team with a strong track record in the tech industry. Vijay, a SaaS veteran, previously led Minjar before its acquisition by Nutanix. On the other hand, Kiran and Parsuram played pivotal roles in taking Freshworks from startup to a publicly traded company in just over a decade.

Bose Unleashes New QuietComfort Lineup with new Bose Immersive Audio Technology

Bose has unveiled a trio of new audio products set to redefine the listening experience: the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, and QuietComfort Headphones. These devices maintain Bose’s signature sound quality, noise cancellation, and comfort while introducing a significant innovation—Bose Immersive Audio.

Bose Immersive Audio

Bose’s Immersive Audio is the company’s take on directional audio. Unlike its competitors, the technology doesn’t use AI to approximate audio direction – particularly when it comes to headphones. Instead, it generates a wider, more spacious soundstage that allows for layered, multidimensional sound. The best part? It’s platform agnostic – meaning that it’s done on the headphones itself. The onboard IMU and Bose’s proprietary digital signal processing software allows for a live concert-like experience, even with audio sources that don’t natively support spatial audio.

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It comes with two modes: Still and Motion. “Still” mode keeps audio stationery for a consistent experience, while “Motion” mode, adapts sound according to your position and movements.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

These headphones replace the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 as Bose’s top-tier over-ear headphones. They address a common concern by folding it down for easy storage. The headphones introduce Bose’s Immersive Audio technology, along with CustomTune audio calibration. They provide clear calls, accurate voice assistant responses, and up to 24 hours of battery life.

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The new QuietComfort Ultra headphones feature a completely re-engineered system with proprietary signal processing, advanced microphones and a robust chipset. These technologies enable improved noise cancellation and CustomTune while supporting Bose’s Aware mode with ActiveSense and improved voice pickup.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

Building on the success of the QC Earbuds II, the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer noise cancellation, CustomTune calibration, responsive touch controls, and now Immersive Audio. Improved call quality is achieved through adaptive filters and dynamic microphone mixing. It also comes with an IPX4 water and dust resistance rating. They provide up to six hours of battery life, with an optional case for wireless charging.

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Bose QuietComfort Headphones

Replacing the QuietComfort 45 Headphones, these offer high-fidelity audio and noise cancellation. Users can customize noise cancellation levels and modes. They provide up to 24 hours of battery life, support multipoint Bluetooth 5.1, and include a Spotify Tap button for convenience.

Compatibility and Connectivity

All three products support Snapdragon Sound Technology Suite, including Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive codec for audio streaming. They are Bluetooth 5.3 compatible and feature Google Fast Pair for Android devices. They are also compatible with Bose SimpleSync technology, allowing personalized pairing with select soundbars and speakers.

Pricing & Availability

Pre-orders for these products are now open.

The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are priced at GBP£449 (MYR2,610.17) while the Earbuds will cost GBP£299 (MYR1,738.21). Both will be available starting in early October in Black and White Smoke.

The QuietComfort Headphones will be available on September 21, 2023, in Black and White Smoke. There will also be a limited-edition Cypress Green colour. It will be priced at GBP£349 (MYR2,028.89).

The wireless charging case which is compatible with both the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and the QC Earbuds II will be on sale for GBP£49.95 (MYR290.38).

There isn’t any word yet on when these products will be available in Malaysia. However, you can still purchase it on the Bose website.

HMD Global Charts a New Path with Independent Smartphone Brand

HMD Global, the Finnish company renowned for resurrecting the Nokia brand, is embarking on a transformative journey. It intends to introduce smartphones under its very own HMD brand, diversifying its portfolio while continuing to develop Nokia phones.

The announcement comes directly from Jean-Francois Baril, Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of HMD Global. According to his LinkedIn post, both HMD and Nokia phones will coexist, ensuring that consumers can still expect new Nokia devices. However, this bold move shows that HMD Global is ready to establish itself as an independent player in the telecommunications market.

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The decision to venture into smartphones under its own brand might be attributed to several factors. Firstly, it’s indicative of the changing dynamics in the smartphone industry, where competition is fierce, and market trends are ever-evolving. By introducing its own brand, HMD Global aims to carve out a distinct identity and cater to the evolving needs of consumers.

Moreover, this strategic shift could be related to the forthcoming expiration of HMD’s licensing agreement with Nokia, which was initially inked in 2016. The agreement allowed HMD Global to reintroduce Nokia-branded devices to the market. With the expiration date approaching in 2026, HMD Global may be preparing for a future beyond Nokia-branded devices.

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Source: HMD Global

The move to establish its own brand is not a sudden decision. HMD Global has been diligently building its brand for years with consistent filings with the EUIPO office. However, recent global challenges, including those posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, seem to have accelerated its quest to establish a unique identity in the industry.

Jean-Francois Baril emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainability and affordability, reflecting the company’s vision to offer high-quality yet affordable mobile devices to consumers worldwide. HMD Global takes pride in its position as one of the fastest-growing 5G smartphone manufacturers, showcasing its resilience in adapting to changing market dynamics.

With an extensive global distribution network, operational capabilities, and a robust in-house software development team, HMD Global appears well-prepared to make a significant impact in the consumer smartphone market. The company’s growth trajectory and sustainability efforts are key indicators of its readiness for this transformation.

The news of HMD Global’s independent smartphone brand has sparked various discussions among internet commentators. Speculation has arisen regarding the future of the Nokia brand, particularly amid rumours of its potential licensing to other companies, including Huawei. However, these discussions remain speculative.