Category Archives: News

Fitbit Announces its Google Account Migration is Starting Soon

April 12, 2023 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

If you have not already known, Google completed its acquisition of Google very early in 2021. The price of that acquisition? A cool US$ 2.1 billion, with a ‘b’, yes. We thought that this could be a rather important acquisition for Google, especially in their pursuit of making an Android wearable product that can compete with the likes of Samsung’s Galaxy Watch and Apple’s Watch products.

Since the acquisition, the Mountain View giant has not exactly sat still with developing Android Wear. They introduced a new Wear OS 3. With that new Wear OS 3, they also announced a new partner in making their Google Wear. They eliminated a competition to Wear OS in tandem to that announcement. Google Wear OS 3’s new darling flagship watch would be made by Samsung into their Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, which also means the TizenOS for watches is no more. What about Fitbit?

In the two years that Google has owned Fitbit, it seems like business as usual for Fitbit. The app remains the same, the devices have not changed, the functions remain the same, they introduced their new products as Fitbit products with no association to Google or Android. Everything sort of changed when Google started making plans to integrate Fitbit into Google and consolidate the Fitbit platform into Google’s own.

Consolidating one platform to another can be a grueling and long process. Just last month, to make things easier to integrate, Google shut down one of the most unique features for Fitbit owners like community adventures and challenges. In the coming months until 2025, Google will start allowing users to log into the Fitbit app with their Google accounts. It is not the end of the story yet though for your old Fitbit login, at least for now. You have until 2025 to migrate and port your data over from the Fitbit account into your Google account though. If you are just starting out with a new Fitbit, you can only register with a Google account instead of the Fitbit accounts that are being phased out.

Benefits Screen.width 1000.format webp — Source: Google

It does not mean that Google is closing the Fitbit app though. It just means that you must sign into your Fitbit app with your Google account in the future. Once you transition from Fitbit login to your Google login, Google says that you will still have access to all your Fitbit data from the past and have full access to the Fitbit app in all its glory and functions. It adds a degree of convenience for users for sure. It also allows Google to keep all your data in a single place and consolidate it into a single security structure that they have control over. According to their Google Blog announcement, Google claims that the Fitbit data you keep with Google will be safer in their hands. You also do not need to be afraid of having Google Ads targeting you, because Google is keeping the data separate and away from Google Ads.

The transition to Google apps is not a surprising one, considering that Google owns Fitbit. While it took this long for Google to finally require Fitbit users to consolidate their accounts into Google, we have also mentioned that transitioning and consolidating two platforms is no easy task. We are also expecting to see new iterations of Android Wear with elements of Fitbit’s clever platform built into Android Wear. In that case, you can expect a new Samsung Galaxy Watch with plenty of what used to be Fitbit exclusive functions.

If you are a Fitbit user still on Fitbit’s proprietary login, we would recommend you switch over as soon as possible. Although Google did say that you are in no hurry, you have until 2025 anyway. For new users looking to get into fitness tracking, you still can buy a Fitbit, but you want to keep in mind you are signing up for it with Google.

Accessories, Business, News

Sony MDR-MV1 Open Back Headphones Comes to Set the New Standard for Monitoring Headphones

April 12, 2023 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Sony is a world-famous brand when it comes to audio gear. They make all sorts of audio solutions for all kinds of uses. They have the WH-1000X series of headphones for consumer level high-end noise-cancelling headphones. They make the MDR Z series headphones for audiophiles. If you prefer in-ear earphones, there is the WF-1000X series for consumers looking for the best truly wireless listening experience. You also have the IER series earphones if you prefer a wired audiophile solution. They do not stop at headphones though, they make vinyl players, portable media players, speakers, home theaters, recorders, and even microphones. They are also some of the biggest name in audio specific production work.

For years, the benchmark for studio and production monitoring has been Sony’s MDR-7506 over ear headphones. In fact, Sony’s MDR series monitoring headphones have been setting the standard in studio level monitoring equipment for more than three decades. Now, there is a new one – the MDR MV1.

Source: Sony
Source: Sony
Source: Sony

Unlike the MDR-7506, the MDR-MV1 offers an open-back design. That means you can expect more natural and cleaner audio response from the headphones, an advantage over closed back designs. Open back headphones also usually offer a more accurate sound reproduction with a wider sound stage, allowing for better and more accurate mixes. There is a small problem of ambient noise though, since there is nothing stopping noise from outside from coming in.

Apart from that accuracy, the MDR-MV1 also offers spatial sound capabilities. For Sony, their spatial sound algorithm is 360 Reality Audio. You can technically use the headphones to mix for Apple’s Spatial Audio and other surround sound implementations. With Hi-Res resolution compatibility, the MDR-MV1 offers a broad depth of monitoring capabilities allowing you to mix all kinds of music accurately. The headphones offer frequency responses between 5Hz all the way to 80kHz, which is more than wide enough for all kinds of sounds, even if you sit in a foley studio instead of a music recording studio.

Unlike older designed Sony MDR monitoring headphones, the MDR-MV1 offers a detachable AUX cable. You can technically use other similar cables, but why would you want to when Sony offers a highly durable high-quality cable with machined connectors. They also re-engineered their earpads with softer materials that is also lightweight so that you can work for much longer without taking off the headphones or hurting your neck and head.

Sony C-80

Source: Sony
Source: Sony

Alongside the MDR-MV1 open back monitoring headphone Sony also launched a new microphone made mostly for home recording and podcasts, the Sony C-80.

Sony’s C-80 is not the first microphone Sony makes. They have the C-100 and C-800G, both are aimed at recording studios mostly. The C-80 is more made for prosumers and hobbyist looking to have a professional grade gear in their homes.

The C-80 offers the best of both the C-100 and C-800G microphones. The capsule is derived from the C-100 while the shock-proof two-part metallic body is derived from the C-800G. They also innovated with something they call “Noise Elimination Construction” that prevents the mic from picking up noise from the body’s vibration itself offering a much cleaner sound almost free of noise while recording.

The C-80, like the mics that came before, is made mostly for vocal recordings. That does not mean that you cannot use it for anything other than vocal recording. You can technically use it for recording instruments like guitars. It is also a condenser, so you want to make sure you have mixer with 48v power through its XLR port.

Price and Availability

The Sony MDR-MV1 will be available in May 2023, alongside the C-80. There are no colour options here, so personalizing your headphones and mics will have to come down to your own efforts. The MDR-MV1 will set you back MYR 1,690, which is a little way off from the older MDR-7506. It is supposed to offer a lot more in terms of monitoring and mixing capabilities though. The C-80 will retail at MYR 2,190. More on Sony’s latest MDR-MV1 can be found on their website.

Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Annotate, Read and Create with the New Kobo Elipsa 2E

April 11, 2023 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

eReaders aren’t your run-of-the-mill tablets; what’s more, with a product like the Kobo Elipsa 2E, we’re talking about e-ink displays. These devices have, for the longest time been single-use devices for those who enjoy reading but don’t mind the absence of tactility in their experience. The flip side to the absence is the access to an endless, ever-growing library of literary adventures.

However, Kobo is looking to change the experience with its new Kobo Elipsa 2E. The eReader comes with a 10.3-inch, E-Ink Carta 1200 touchscreen. This display comes equipped with a backlight and ComfortLight PRO which helps reduce blue light and eyestrain. The eReader is made specifically for longer reading sessions and maybe that hour or two to help you escape before going to bed. It’s also got 32GB of internal storage and a 2GHz processor.

The biggest difference with the Kobo Elipsa 2E is the new Kobo Stylus 2 which allows readers to actively annotate the eBooks that they are reading. It also comes with the built-in notebook feature which allows users to take notes independently as well. With the Kobo Elipsa 2E you’ll also be able to convert your handwriting into typed text if you to as well.

This feature addresses a long-standing issue that non-fiction readers faced with eReaders. CEO of Kobo, Michael Tamblyn highlights, “For avid nonfiction readers, eBooks have historically been an imperfect medium because they couldn’t mark up the text and engage with the content as effectively as with a print book. With the introduction of Kobo Stylus, we have solved that and with Kobo Elipsa 2E and our upgraded Kobo Stylus 2, we have created a superior reading experience for nonfiction fans.”

It’s not just about annotating either with this eReaders, you’ll be able to tap into Kobo’s vast library of audiobooks thanks to Bluetooth connectivity. Just pair your favourite pair of headphones and you’re all set for your next audiobook. With the Kobo Elipsa 2E, users can also rest at ease when it comes to their carbon footprint. The Elipsa 2E features a build that consists of over 85% recycled materials including ocean-bound plastics. The SleepCover for the Elipsa 2E is also made from recycled materials and ocean-bound plastics.

Pricing & Availability

The Elipsa 2E will retail for MYR2,019.00. It will be on sale complete with the Kobo Stylus 2. The eReader will be available in Malaysia via the Kobo Lazada and Shopee storefronts starting April 19, 2023.

Pre-orders kicked off on April 5 in Canada, the US, the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and Turkey. Physical stores will have them on shelves starting April 19, 2023.

Android, Mobile, News

Google Play Saves Your Storage by Archiving Your Least-Used Apps Automatically

April 11, 2023 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Google just updated their policy just last week to ensure that users have more control over their own data on apps and account on their selected apps. This week, they are updating the app itself to add a little bit more automation on the app. While it may sound a little counter-intuitive especially with the whole initiative in giving users more control over their own smartphone and data, it is a good update for users.

Smartphones in the modern world allow you to have thousands of apps in your smartphone. In fact, you would install thousands of apps on your smartphone. All these takes up precious storage on your smartphone and when you find a new app you could use, you run out of storage space before you know it. To install the new app, you must clear up your storage by deleting things on your smartphone, uninstall apps. Thing is, you might want to keep those apps still because they could come in handy. You want to ensure that your app data is still in your smartphone in case you want to start running the app again. There is a way, thanks to Google’s latest update to Google Play.

You can now opt-in for Google Play’s new ‘auto-archive’ function. According to Google’s developer blog update, the function will help the user free up space on their smartphones without the need to manually uninstall apps from their smartphone. Google Play cleverly partially remove an app that you have not used for a long time on your smartphone to give way for newer and more functional apps. It is not really completely uninstalled though; the app’s data is still stored within the smartphone and you can re-download the app when you want to use it again as long as the app is still available on Google Play Store.

Of course, the function is not only an opt-in for the user, but also for developers. Their apps would have to have the function built into their app. They would also have to be using App Bundle to publish their apps on Google Play Store. Once their app enables the auto-archive function, the apps will be less likely to turn up on uninstall suggestions when users want to clear their smartphone’s storage.

details page preinstall light 411 — Source: Google Blog

For users to opt-in, a prompt will trigger when a user tries to install an app on their smartphone with full storage. The prompt will appear and ask if the user would like to enable auto-archive. Once the user enables auto-archive, Google Play will cleverly do its thing to archive apps you hardly use or have not been using for a long time to free up some storage space for the new app. No, you do not have to do much, just make sure your Google Play Store is up to date to get the function.

Camera, Lifestyle, News

FUJIFILM INSTAX mini 12 Launches – More of the Same Thing, But Just a Little Bit More for MYR 428

April 10, 2023 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

FUJIFILM’s INSTAX series cameras have been the king of instant printing cameras, not like they had plenty in terms of competition anyway. Their first INSTAX mini camera was introduced back in 2016. Back then, the INSTAX mini was a curious little camera that looked out of place in the world of digital cameras. There were questions about its place in the modern photography world.

It was not made as a serious camera though. It was built and made for fun. It was made to be completely basic and very easy to use. Fast forward to 2023, they are introducing the 12^th iteration of the INSTAX mini. To be fair, the recipe has been somewhat the same.

Press Release FUJIFILM Malaysia Launches INSTAX mini 12 Final1 — Source: FUJIFILM

The INSTAX mini 12 draws pretty much from the INSTAX mini 11 introduced back in 2020. Yes, it has been nearly three years since FUJIFILM updated the INSTAX mini camera. To be fair, there is not too much to update in the first place.

The INSTAX mini 11 introduced a very clever Automatic Exposure function to the FUJIFILM INSTAX family. There is nothing much else to be improved for the INSTAX because it offers the sort of same instant film experience as the INSTAX before it. There is slightly new bodywork adding some flair and ergonomic function to the instant film camera on the mini 11. Apart from that and the new exposure control technology, there is not much else new on the mini 11.

The mini 12 offers the same Automatic Exposure as the older INSTAX mini 11. It offers largely the same body as the old one too. Now though there is a new control mechanism on the 12^th iteration of the INSTAX mini. You now can rotate the lens. When you do that, the lens zooms in and goes to ‘Close-up Mode’. You can now use it to take proper selfies with the photo focusing right on your face. You can use the mirror right beside the lens too to get yourself in the right frame. It also prints faster than before, now at just five seconds after you hit the shutter.

Once you take your photo with the FUJIFILM INSTAX mini 12, you can keep it digitized with FUJIFILM’s latest smartphone app. With the ‘INSTAX UP!” app, you can take use your smartphone, take a photo of the film that was just printed by the INSTAX mini 12 and keep it digitally. You can even reproduce it in your own style with INSTAX printers. Either that, you can share the photos on your social media channels.

Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM
Source: FUJIFILM

The FUJIFILM INSTAX mini 12 will be available in new colours too – Mint Green, Blossom Pink, Pastel Blue, Lilac Purple, Clay White. The FUJIFILM INSTAX mini 12 will be available in Malaysia from the 13^th of April 2023 onward from FUJIFILM’s authorised retailers, their official stores, and online across the nation. It will set you back MYR 428 and you also get two packs of film to get going. More on the FUJIFILM INSTAX mini 12 can be found on their website.

Android, Mobile, News

HONOR Launches the Magic5 Series with Millisecond Falcon Capture technology for MYR 3,499 Onward

April 7, 2023 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Ever since HONOR has stepped out as an independent smartphone manufacturer, the brand has gone from strength to strength. They have successfully launched their own smartphones packing their own MagicOS based on Android with Google Play Store access for a couple of years now. While they have not been able to completely shake off their HUAWEI ties or association, they do make respectable smartphones that are rather appealing too.

Their latest addition to the stable is the Magic5 series announced in MWC 2023. You get to choose between vanilla model or a Pro variant in this series. They also launched a rather interesting foldable, the Magic Vs alongside the Magic5, but we are going to focus on the Magic5 series here.

HONOR Magic5 Pro

Screenshot 2023 04 07 135743 — Source: HONOR

The Magic5 Pro is built to be the true 2023 flagship for HONOR. They started out with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 system on a chip (SoC), the fastest and most powerful processing chip for an Android smartphone to date. The octa-core chip is then paired to 12GB of RAM for good measure and to avoid bottlenecks in multitasking conditions. You get 512GB of storage too for good measure.

Part of the 512GB of storage holds the Android 13 based MagicOS 7.1 interface that shows on the large 6.82-inch display. The OLED panel offers 2,848 by 1,312 pixels, which is not quite QHD+, but more than Full HD+. It is a 10-bit display offering up to 1.07 billion colours and up to 1800nits in brightness though. It is also an LTPO panel that offers up to 120Hz in refresh rate for that extra smooth feel. The glass that protects the display also protects a 12-Megapixel front-facing camera supported by a 3-Megapixel depth sensor with up to 4K resolution video recording capabilities.

The HONOR Magic5 Pro’s party piece, the Falcon Triple Main Camera as HONOR puts it, is its main camera array at the back. Arranged in a familiar ‘halo’ design, the HONOR Magic5 Pro offers three 50-Megapixel sensors at the back. One is obviously a regular 24mm wide-angle shooter, the other is an ultra-wide shooter, and the last one is a telephoto lens capable of 3.5x optical zoom and up to 100x digital zoom. All of them offer optical image stabilisation (OIS) too if you are worried about your clammy hands. Of course, the camera array supports video recording at 4K resolution. They say also that the camera is faster than ever before, hence the name Falcon.

Keeping everything running for an entire day and possibly more is a 5,100mAh battery pack within the glass and aluminium constructed body. It supports HONOR’s 66W Supercharge technology which will still allow you to get going with a full charge in just about an hour’s time. If you prefer to just leave your device on the table to get it wirelessly charging, the device is capable of a 50W charge wirelessly.

HONOR Magic5

Screenshot 2023 04 07 135724 — Source: HONOR

The more premium Magic5 Pro may be appealing and can be recognised as the true flagship for HONOR. The vanilla is not too far behind though, in that case we think that the vanilla Magic5 is worth more than a look thanks to the value it offers. It is everything that is the Magic5 Pro with a few minor differences.

It packs the same SoC, for one. It also comes with the same amount of RAM. The storage is a little smaller though at 256GB. While the display is smaller at 6.73-inch, you still get an OLED panel that offers more than Full HD+ in resolution. You still get up to 120Hz in refresh rate and DCI-P3 colour gamut at up to 1600nits in brightness.

You lose one camera out in front. You also lose a little resolution the camera at only 12-Megapixel, but no matter, you still shoot videos at 4K resolution. Out the back is a more powerful main camera at 54-Megapixel. The ultra-wide camera remains the same at 50-Megapixel. The trade off is on the telephoto camera that offers 32-Megapixel and only up to 50x digital zoom.

It is still an Android 13 device offering MagicOS 7.1 interface though. Within the glass and aluminium construction is still a large 5,100mAh battery. It still charges at 66W but does not get wireless charging.

Price and Availability

HONOR Magic5 Pro Pre Order Starts — Source: HONOR

The HONOR Magic5 starts at MYR 3,499. You can get one in either Glacier Blue or Black colour. The vanilla HONOR Magic5 will go on sale starting 28^th of April 2023. There are no pre-order programmes for this one.

The HONOR Magic5 Pro does have a pre-order programme. You can now pre-order your HONOR Magic5 Pro up until the 13^th of April 2023. Shipping starts the day after that and you can pre-order your device from their own online stores, partner retailers, and even their official stores on Shopee and Lazada. Each pre-order entitles you to free gifts worth over MYR 1,200 while stocks last. The HONOR Magic5 Pro is available in Meadow Green and Black Colour options for MYR 4,299). For more information on HONOR’s Magic5 and Magic5 Pro, you can visit their website.

Android, Mobile, News

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Series Brings Flagship Class Specifications to a More Affordable Price Point

April 6, 2023 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Xiaomi’s Redmi lineup has long been one of the most affordable smartphones available on the market. With the Redmi Note 11 series, the lineup took a step closer to bringing flagship-class specs with its 108-megapixel camera. This year, the series inches even closer with a 200-megapixel camera and high-performance display.

The new series comes with three entries – for now. Spearheading the lineup is the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G which comes with a 200-megapixel camera and the MediaTek Dimensity 1080. The Note 12 Pro+ 5G also comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage and runs on Android 12 with MIUI 14. On the entry-level side of things is the Redmi Note 12 without 5G which comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage and comes with a 50-megapixel camera. Sitting right in the middle of the lineup is the Redmi Note 12 5G which comes with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1. It comes with a 48-megapixel camera and up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal space.

The hallmark of the new lineup is the 200-megapixel sensor which comes as the main sensor on the Pro+. This main sensor is complemented by an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensor and a 2-megapixel macro camera. On the front of the Pro+ is a 16-megapixel selfie camera. The Pro+ comes with a 6.67-inch FHD+ Flow AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 900 nits peak brightness and Dolby Vision support. The Pro+ is also the only one in the lineup which comes with a dual-curved design making it more ergonomic.

The Redmi Note 12 5G’s 48-megapixel sensor is complemented by 8-megapixel ultrawide and 2-megapixel macro sensors. It comes with a 13-megapixel on the front. Display-wise it comes with a 6.67-inch AMOLED DotDisplay with a 120Hz refresh rate, 1,200 nits peak brightness and Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The 5G version of the Redmi Note 12 comes with a curved back.

The Redmi Note 12 without 5G comes in a completely flat form factor. It has the same camera setup complementing its 50-megapixel sensor and selfie camera as the Redmi Note 12 5G. Even the display is the same. The major differences here are its processor, the lack of 5G connectivity and the 50-megapixel sensor.

The smartphones are IP53 splash and dust resistance certified. Xiaomi has also opted to keep the 3.5mm combo jack and IR blaster. All versions come with side-mounted fingerprint sensors which are embedded into the power button. They also all come with a 5,000mAh battery with 33W Fast Charging. However, Pro+ ups the ante a little bit with 120W HyperCharge.

Pricing & Availability

The Redmi Note 12 series will be available for pre-order in Malaysia starting on April 6, 2023. During this pre-order, purchases will be entitled to a free Redmi Smart Band 2. The e-commerce exclusive Redmi Note 12 (6GB + 128GB) will be available at a discounted price of MYR659 during this period.

In-store sales begin from April 15 onwards. Purchases made from this date onwards will be entitled to free Redmi Buds 4 Lite while stocks last.

Purchases and Pre-orders can be made at authorised Xiaomi dealers and the Xiaomi storefronts on Shopee and Lazada.

The official pricing and variants available are listed below.

Model	Colours	Pricing (MYR)	Pre-order Offer	In-Store Offer
Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G (8GB+256GB)	Midnight Black Polar White Sky Blue	RM 1,599	FREE Redmi Smart Band 2	FREE Redmi Buds 4 Lite
Redmi Note 12 5G (8GB+256GB)	Onyx Gray Forest Green Ice Blue	RM 1,099	FREE Redmi Smart Band 2	FREE Redmi Buds 4 Lite
Redmi Note 12 (8GB+128GB)	Onyx Gray Mint Green Ice Blue	RM 799	FREE Redmi Smart Band 2	FREE Redmi Buds 4 Lite
Redmi Note 12 (6GB+128GB) *e-Commerce exclusive	Onyx Gray Mint Green Ice Blue	RM 699	FREE Redmi Smart Band 2	Special Price: MYR659 FREE Redmi Buds 4 Lite

Official Specifications

Android, Mobile, News

You Can Soon Delete Your User Data from an App Thanks to Google

April 6, 2023 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Data privacy and security is a big topic. It is also something Apple and Google, the world’s largest tech firms, have been working on for a long time. Over time, Google and Apple have both separately introduce new measures and policies for their developers to improve on security and giving more privacy access to their users. In their latest policy update, Google might make things easier for you if you wish to opt out or finally delete an app you no longer want to use.

As of yesterday, Google has introduced a few key initiatives for their Google Play store for 2023 and beyond. In their latest blog update, they are looking to achieve a few things with their initiative an policy update. Ads is still a big thing for Google, but they are looking to soften ads served to users. You are not getting any less ads, but Google seems to limit the amount of data that you share with apps and therefore shared across ad algorithms.

Google is also introducing a new Play Integrity API that is supposed to better protect their developers and the IP that comes with the apps. Alongside the enhanced API, Google is also introducing Google Play SDK Index so that developers have better overview over their SDK uses. In all this, they also look to balance the experience for developers and users by ensuring that there are better policies in place to ensure that data collection is done as responsibly as possible. At the same time, they want to make Google Play even safer for children and families, all through the updated policy.

Header Android Giving people more control over their data — Source: Google

The biggest emphasis, at least according to another blog update, is allowing more data control for its users. It is not just about accessing and viewing more data than ever. While that is also a part of an improved transparency over users’ data, the policy update requires developers to allow their users to have even more control and deliberation with their own data on their selected platforms. It is also more than just allowing you to choose which data or hardware that the app gets access to.

Modern apps requires us to hold a virtual account with the provider’s platform to use. Even if you are using a Google account to sign into different apps, the platform technically creates another account for you just for their platform. If you wish to create a separate account, you can too via the apps. What most apps does not allow you to do though is to reverse that process. That is about to change.

In Google’s latest policy for developers, developers are going to be required to enable in-app account deletion or at least initiate the account deletion process via their apps. Google also requires the developer to allow the app deletion process and initiation to be done completely online too so that users do not have to reinstall an app just to delete their account. Since the account deletion process can be done completely via your app, you also do not have to access two different devices to delete your user data off their platforms.

With the policy as well, Google states that any account deletion must also be accompanied with a complete deletion of a user’s data from their database. In that case, users also get an option to either keep or delete their data from a developer’s database when their delete their accounts. There are going to be cases where developers might require data retention for security, fraud prevention, or regulatory compliance. In that case, the developer must clearly state that they will have hold your data for whatever reason they cite.

Google is looking to enforce their policy starting December 2023. They are allowing for extensions for developers up until May 2024. That also means that you can expect all your apps to include your account deletion feature from 2024 onward. Of course, this policy will not just affect Android users with access to Google Play. This most likely will also translate to users of other platforms since the policy does affect most developers that are on both Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Android, Gaming, Mobile, News

Samsung and AMD Extends Strategic IP Licensing Agreement – Maybe That New Exynos is Worth a Look After All

April 6, 2023 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Technically, this is not the first we heard of Samsung partnering with AMD to bring Radeon graphics into the mobile space. AMD technically licensed their RDNA architecture to Samsung in 2019. That partnership gave birth to something called the Samsung Xclipse, a mobile GPU with AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture built into it. It was the first of the world’s mobile GPU with ray-tracing and variable rate shading capabilities. It was also rumoured to match the performances of modern gaming consoles.

Samsung Xclipse did not see the light of day in our everyday products though. While we expected Samsung to integrate the product in to their Samsung Galaxy S flagship smartphones and Galaxy Tab S tablets, it never really happened. Instead, the Samsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy Tab S line-up today features a third-party Qualcomm Snapdragon system on a chip (SoC). You will not be able to opt for Samsung’s in-house Exynos chips with the flagship devices too globally, because that high-end Exynos chip does not exist as of yet.

That might change in the coming iterations of Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab S device though. As per the title, Samsung has just signed a new licensing agreement with AMD. This agreement is not a renewal, but rather an expansion of the original agreement with AMD. The expansion now allows Samsung to integrate AMD’s Radeon RDNA architecture into an expanded portfolio, that includes more Exynos chips. This is where it could get interesting.

The expansion could allow Samsung to integrate the RDNA 2, or even RDNA 3 technology into their latest Exynos chips. While Samsung has yet to reveal a high-end world beater SoC, they are putting their Exynos chips into mid-range smartphones. You could potentially get a Samsung Galaxy A series smartphone with RDNA 2 or even RDNA 3 built into their Exynos platform. That also means that Samsung could boast console level gaming experience on their more accessible mid-range smartphone series. In that case, their mid-range smartphones could be a lot more appealing than flagship smartphone if all you are looking for in your smartphone is raw processing power.

The expansion could also mean that Samsung has been holding back on high-end Exynos chips because they have been working with AMD behind closed doors to offer that fabled Exynos SoC with RDNA 2 or even RDNA 3 graphics architecture in tow. In which case, they might have bragging rights in introducing the world’s first flagship smartphone that is capable of hardware ray-tracing and variable rate shading. You will also get console level gaming experience out of the device, obviously.

The thing is, we are not expecting to see the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series with Samsung’s Exynos with AMD Radeon graphics in tow anytime soon. The soonest we can expect to see the AMD Radeon name gracing a Samsung Galaxy device is probably in 2024, with the Samsung Galaxy S24. Even that is a far-fetched speculation we think and a very early one at that. All we can do currently is wait.

News

More Style, More Power with the Dell Precision Lineup

April 4, 2023 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Thin and light isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of cutting-edge technology and laptops. In fact, we’d be thinking the exact opposite! Historically, a high-performance laptop has always been synonymous with thick, bulky laptops. But that would also mean that designers, programmers, and video editors – among others – are stuck putting the breaking back in backbreaking work. However, Dell set out to change that a few years ago with their Precision lineup. Now, with the latest line of Precision laptops, they’ve managed to marry the two and inject some finesse.

The Dell Precision Laptop series is getting supercharged with more power in its stylish chassis. The new, extensive lineup will be equipped with Intel’s latest 13th Generation Core processors. Complementing this will be the cutting-edge NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation Laptop GPUs. These systems are configured to empower creatives, data crunchers, engineers and designers to work on the go with little to worry about. Coming with 14-,15-,16- and 17 displays, the laptops are built for immersive productivity. These productivity-focused 16:10 OLED displays can also be professionally calibrated for colour-sensitive workflows covering the sRGB and DCI-P3 gamuts. They also come with 4K resolution with HDR support.

The Precision Laptops are also fitted with the latest when it comes to connectivity with options for WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 and 5G. They are also augmented with advanced thermals to endure resource-intensive workflows and increased durability with MIL-STD certification.

Diversifying the Dell Precision Setup

In addition to the Dell Precision laptops, Dell’s lineup is also available for desktops and server-grade setups. The Precision Tower brings all the ethos and performance of Dell’s Precision laptops into a familiar desktop tower. Fully equipped with the best in connectivity, the Precision Tower skews away from Intel Cores to more capable Intel Xeon processors for an extra kick when it comes to power. They also come with NVIDIA RTX professional or AMD Radeon Pro graphics prepared for higher performance.

Together with the Tower, Dell is also bringing the Precision line up to server racks with an ultra-scalable 2U Precision 7960 rack. With this setup, you can work on- and off-premises with the same power-packed setup while keeping sensitive data securely locked away. They come equipped with Intel’s W790 chipset with Intel Xeon Processors and professional grade NVIDIA RTX and AMD Radeon Pro graphics.

Pricing & Availability

The Precision lineup will be available starting on March 23, 2023. Detailed dates and prices are as listed:

Model	Availability	Price (USD$)	Price (MYR)*
Precision 3480 Mobile Workstation	March 23, 2023	starting from $1,439.00	starting from MYR6,344.87
Precision 3580 Mobile Workstation	March 23, 2023	starting from $1,459.00	starting from MYR6,433.95
Precision 3581 Mobile Workstation	March 23, 2023	starting from $1,699.00	starting from MYR7,492.31
Precision 5480 Mobile Workstation	April 20, 2023	TBA	–
Precision 5680 Mobile Workstation	May 18, 2023	TBA	–
Precision 7680 Mobile Workstation	March 23, 2023	starting from $2,529.00	starting from MYR11,152.47
Precision 7780 Mobile Workstation	March 23, 2023	starting from $2,829.00	starting from MYR12,475.42
Precision 5860 Tower	April 18, 2023	TBA	–
Precision 7960 Tower	April 18, 2023	TBA	–
Precision 7960 Rack	April 18, 2023	TBA	–