Category Archives: News

Computers, Gaming, Lifestyle, News

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 and RTX 4060 Ti is Finally Here – Better Late Than Never!

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NVIDIA launched their Ada Lovelave architecture technology last year with the rather humungous NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 flagship class GPUs. That brought high-end 4K and 8K gaming to the hands of consumers who could afford them. For the ones that could not, they had to be content with the existing NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series set-up. They had to settle for an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or RTX 3070, since the RTX 3080 and RTX 3090 were still sold at incredibly high prices at the time. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti came rather late to the Ada Lovelace party, but it was still a welcome addition to the RTX 40 series line-up since that means that Ada Lovelace is becoming a little more accessible to normal people. The RTX 4070 Ti is still, by no means, a cheap or affordable GPU to start with though, for those looking to game on a budget, they still must go for NVIDIA’s outdated GeForce RTX 3060. Not anymore.

NVIDIA has just announced that the NVIDIDA GeForce RTX 4060 family is finally seeing the light. This includes the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti variant of the GPU. Alongside the announcement of the latest entry-level RTX 40 series GPU, NVIDIA announces that over 300 games now support DLSS 3 upscaling technology for better gaming performance at higher graphics quality.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060

The regular NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 comes with 3,072 CUDA cores that clocks in at 2.46 GHz, which is curiously less cores than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 that came before it. The GPU is clocked higher than before though, and with Ada Lovelace architecture, should prove to be an improvement over the RTX 3060. Obviously, the GeForce RTX 4060 also comes with NVIDIA’s 3rd generation Ray Tracing cores that also supports DLSS 3.0 and 4th Generation Tensor cores that should prove to perform better than the older 60 class GPU.

The result is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 performing about 1.7x better than the RTX 3060 on average. While you only get the choice of an 8GB GDDR6 memory option, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 should be a better all-around performer for Full HD 1080p gaming natively. Of course, if you want even better performance and higher frame rates, you can upscale your games with DLSS 3.0.

You still can output the GPU to an 8K display at up to 60Hz with either HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 2.0 on the Founder’s Edition GPUs. Whether or not we will see a combination of HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.0 on partner boards is a guess. Still, it can power up to 4 monitors simultaneously if you need that kind of set-up. It is a 60 class GPU, and it is not meant for higher power consumptions, and therefore it only draws up to 115W in TGP.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

For those who are looking to spend a little more on their GPU, but not RTX 4070 high, the RTX 4060 Ti should fit the bill nicely. It is technically more powerful than the RTX 4060. It also a large improvement over the GPU it replaces.

Again, Ada Lovelace architecture means that the new GeForce RTX 4060 Ti does not have to have larger amounts of CUDA cores within the GPU. It only has 4,352 CUDA cores over the 4,864 of the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti. There is the 3rd Generation Ray Tracing cores and 4th Generation Tensor Cores too with AV1 support that is making the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti perform about 1.7x better than the old GPU it replaces. Like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, the RTX 4060 Ti is designed to crush games even better at Full HD resolutions.

You can also drive up to 4 displays with the 4 output ports from the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti reference GPU. One of them would have to be plugged into the HDMI port, but it is HDMI 2.1 so you still can get 8K 60Hz output out from the GPU. Thanks to lower core counts, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is more efficient than ever with up to 165W TGP over the older 200W even with 16GB of GDDR6 memory on board.

Price and Availability

There is no mention on whether NVIDIA will offer the GeForce RTX 4060 and RTX 4060 Ti with GDDR6X memory or not. With GDDR6X being available for the older GeForce RTX 3060 and RTX 3060 Ti, we can assume that NVIDIA will be planning to bring the new 40 series entry-level GPUS with GDDR6X memory. For now, no other manufacturing partners have showcased their own version of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 and RTX 4060 Ti GPUs. If you plan to get NVIDIA’s Founder’s Edition GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, prices start at US$ 299 (MYR 1,359*), which is not entirely unreasonable. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti starts at US$ 399 (MYR 1,813*) for the 8GB edition and the 16GB edition will set you back MYR US$ 499 (MYR 2,267*). More information on the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPUs can be found on their website.

*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.54 as of 22/05/2023 on xe.com

News

Samsung Pushes App Optimization for Foldables Malaysia

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The state of apps on tablets and foldables on Android has left users with a lot to be desired. That said, with Android 12L and the upcoming Android 14, these app experiences are becoming easier to optimize. In fact, it wouldn’t be to farfetched to say that they’ve been one of – if not the main – focus of Google’s Android. One of the pioneering heroes of these experiences has been Samsung with their Galaxy Z series.

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Samsung has been actively app optimization globally hand in hand with Google. It’s no different in Malaysia. Over the past few years, they have been actively collaborating with partners from various industries to create new and optimized app experiences when it comes to foldables – in particular for the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold smartphones.

Samsung and their pioneering cohort of partners showcased their apps and experiences for the first time this week. These partners include one of Malaysia’s banks, Ambank, global convenience store chain, FamilyMart, Malaysian telecommunications company, Maxis, Malaysian payment platform, Pay4U and Malaysian Coffee chain, ZUS Coffee. These partners have been developing and optimizing their app experiences in partnership with Samsung and Google.

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Each of these apps take advantage of the unique form factors of the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold as well as the additional display real estate on the latter. Each experience advances the customer and user experience of the apps allowing these partners to deliver more meaningful for users and catered uniquely to the Malaysian public. These new, optimized apps are rolling out to the Google Play and Samsung Galaxy Stores.

It’s worth noting that these apps are just the beginning of Samsung’s efforts in Malaysia. The company has already begun working with new partners such as Malaysian cinema chains, Golden Screen Cinemas and TGV Cinemas; Gigi Coffee and Zapp. These partners are expecting to roll their optimized apps in the second half of 2023. They are open to working with even more partners. In the words of Luke Au, Head of Product Marketing, Mobile experience at Samsung Malaysia, “We are passionate about making mobile innovation relevant to consumers… We invite local organisations to be part of this industry collaboration and deliver better experiences to their customers.”

In addition, the company also announced an upcoming hackathon catered for students of local universities and institutions of higher learning to develop new, unique experiences for foldable devices. Stay tuned to techENT as we will share more details on the hackathon as they become available.

Lifestyle, Mobile, News

The HUAWEI P60 Pro is Now Available for Pre-Order in Malaysia at MYR 4,699 Onward

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HUAWEI launched the P60 series of devices not too long ago this year. Of course, being HUAWEI’s biggest market outside of China, you would expect them to launch the P60 series sometime soon in Malaysia. They did just that.

They launched the P60 Pro last week alongside a few new shiny devices, including a rather interesting foldable smartphone that we thought looked rather slick. No matter though, the star of the show was supposed to be the HUAWEI P60 Pro, their latest photography flagship smartphone.

To recap, the HUAWEI P60 Pro was launched in China sometime in March 2023. Within the device is a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ gen1 4G platform. No 5G technology here, no thanks to the trade ban. You get up to 12GB of RAM and up to 512G of on-board storage with the powerful System on a Chip (SoC).

It is not Android that powers the device either, as we all have come to expect it. Instead, you get an in-house developed EMUI 13.1. While the main architecture and design of EMUI 13.1 is based mostly on Android, HUAWEI’s P60 Pro will not be coming with Google Play Store on-board.

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Source: HUAWEI

EMUI 13.1 is displayed in all its glory on a 6.67-inch LTPO OLED display that offers up to 120Hz in refresh rate. It is not a Full HD display; you get 1,220 by 2,700 pixels, not quite QHD either. Still, the display offers brilliant OLED vividness and saturation at P3 wide colour gamut.

Out the back is a powerful 48-Megapixel main shooter that can also capture 4K videos. There is also a 13-Megapixel ultra-wide shooter alongside a 48-Megapixel telephoto camera to support the main camera and offer users more variety in their photos. Out the front is a 13-Megapixel selfie camera that also offers 4K video recording capabilities.

Keeping the device running and charged up the entire day is a 4,815mAh internal battery that should last for more than a day even with constant usage. If that is not enough, you can charge the device at up to 88W with a compatible charger and cable combination. If you prefer to keep your device unplugged, the device can still be charged at up to 50W using Wireless HUAWEI SuperCharge technology.

The HUAWEi P60 Pro is now available for pre-orders at MYR 4,699 until 19th of May 2023 at select HUAWEI Experience Stores. You can select between Rococo Pearl and Black colour options. Device collection can be done the day after the pre-order period ends. Each pre-order entitles you to a selection of gift vouchers for various services and products. If you collect your device on the 20th of May 2023, you are also entitled to an MYR 200 Touch n Go voucher and a chance at winning a HUAWEI Vision S television worth MYR 3,499. You can learn more about the HUAWEI P60 Pro on their website.

Pre-orders will also get access to an enticing selection of vouchers from renowned brands including:

  • Dadi Cinema: Movie Voucher
  • AirAsia: Hotel Discount
  • Watsons: RM20 Off Voucher
  • ZUS Coffee: Free 1 Cup of Handcrafted Americano
  • Chagee: RM20 Off Voucher
  • Baijia: E-Voucher Pack Worth RM55
  • foodpanda: 1-Year Pandapro Voucher
  • Klook: 15% Off Sitewide Using Klook App
  • Air China: RM100 Off Voucher
Accessories, Health, Lifestyle, News

Amazfit T-Rex Ultra Now Available in Malaysia Complete with Modes for Every Sport & Activity

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Amazfit is at it again! The company launched their stylish GTR Mini not too long ago, now, it’s upping the ante with a big jump into the perfect wearable for active users – the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra.

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Source: Amazfit/Zepp Health Corporation

The new T-Rex Ultra is a wearable built for the outdoors and the active lifestyle. It comes with a body made of 316L Stainless Steel that is forged to be durable and scratch resistant. It’s also built to be mud resistant and keep debris out of the system. In fact, the T-Rex Ultra is certified for free diving up to 30 meters depth (EN13319) and can resist water pressures equivalent to 100 meters depth (ISO6245). Best part? It weighs in at less than 90g.

The rugged smartwatch is also equipped with a 1.39-inch AMOLED display with a 454×454 pixel resolution of 326 pixels per inch (PPI). You’ll be able to interact with ZeppOS 2.0 via the touchscreen on the watch or using the four physical buttons on the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra. The display also has a 1,000 nits peak brightness perfect for viewing under direct sunlight.

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Source: Amazfit/Zepp Health Corporation

It also comes equipped with a bevvy of sensors including a BioTracker PPG biometric sensor which supports measurements of blood oxygenation (SpO2) and heart rate tracking, accelerometer, gyroscopic sensor, geomagnetic sensor, barometric altimeter and ambient light sensors. These sensors feed raw data into ZeppOS 2.0 where you will get easy-to-understand charts and graphs. Trekkers and hikers will be able to take advantage of the dual-band, 6-satellite positioning system which provides accurate GPS coordinates and route tracking.

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Source: Amazfit/Zepp Health Corporation

The T-Rex Ultra comes with over 160 sports modes that allow you to track and estimate your calories during your workouts. Amazfit has equipped it with smart recognition of 25 strength training activities and 8 sports activities. These activities will automatically start tracking when the smartwatch detects movements related to the activities.

The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra syncs seamlessly with smartphones running a minimum of Android 7.0 and iOS 12.0 via Bluetooth 5.0 BLE. Your data will also be synced seamlessly to the cloud through WiFi. Your data can also be synced with apps like Google Fit, Apple Health, Strava, Adidas Running, and Relive.

Pricing & Availability

The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra is currently available in two colours: Abyss Black and Sahara. It is retailing for MYR1,899 on Shopee, Lazada and the official Amazfit e-store.

Camera, News

Hasselblad Goes Completely Mirrorless

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For years, imaging companies have been avoiding mirrorless technologies in their consumer or prosumer grade cameras. Canon, Nikon, and even Hasselblad has fallen on the same boat for years since their inception. While they are not in the same playing field, they recognise the benefits of a DSLR, a camera with a single reflex mirror sitting in front of their sensors. The system was simple, and rather accurate, since you are looking at a mirror, not a digital representation of images. You are not looking into a pixelated display that offers subpar image qualities and resolutions to frame your images. Once you are ready, the shutter button pulls a lever that lifts the mirror mechanism up to reveal the sensor to your desired frame and captures your image.

Technology of mirrorless cameras have progressed plenty though. Sony’s Alpha division have championed the mirrorless camera technology for far longer than any major camera manufacturer and made it their brand. With every iteration, the mirrorless camera takes not only a new form, but also some kind of major evolution. The mirrorless camera from Sony has proven to be some of the most versatile and reliable cameras on the planet. Major news outlets have also started to adopt mirrorless cameras as their sole go to when it comes to imaging purposes. Even Canon and Nikon had to admit defeat by introducing their EOS R and Z series cameras and lenses, and then announcing last year that they are going to focus on mirrorless cameras instead of developing new DLSRs.

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Source: Hasselblad

Hasselblad is the latest to join the band of camera makers that is abandoning the DSLR. They are not the only medium-format camera maker to go mirrorless exclusive though. Fujifilm has also championed mirrorless cameras, especially with their GFX medium-format cameras which has proved to not only be the more affordable option for that time of camera, but also more popular amongst photographers.

For Hasselblad, they have announced (not directly) that the latest Hasselblad H system will be the last of their DSLR product. According to the third-party announcement, Hasselblad will not take any more orders for the H system. They also mentioned that the H system line-up or products has officially all sold out and will not be replaced. The third-party vendor that pushed the announcement even mentioned that they cannot even replace their old malfunctioning parts. That also means that Hasselblad is completely and decisively abandoning the entire H series and its user base.

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Source: Hasselblad

So, what if you want a Hasselblad for your studio? They have the X2D system. It is not like the H series camera though, at least not in modularity. For the X2D system, you go back to the camera body complete with its grip and sensor built-in and choose a lens for it. You get to choose between the 100C or 50C; either 100-Megapixel sensor, or 50-Megapixel sensor. The biggest upside to this and mirrorless camera is the reduction in camera size. The Hasselblad X2D series of cameras look more like a normal full-frame camera instead of a behemoth sized rig. While the sensor size prevents the camera from getting smaller, the Hasselblad X2D cameras are a lot more portable and simpler to handle. That means that you can technically take it out to the field for some stunning and highly detailed images on-the-go. It is still bulkier than modern mirrorless cameras from the likes of Canon and Nikon though, so you want to keep that in mind.

You might think that the X2D system might be more affordable. You would be right if you compare it to the H system. It is still EUR€ 8,699 (MYR 42,592*) for one X2D 100C though, which is not exactly a small amount of money, considering. The X2D 50C starts at EUR€ 6,000 (MYR 29,377*), which is slightly more affordable than the 100C, but still not what you want to call cheap. Then there are the lenses which starts off at EUR€ 1,199 (MYR 5,870*) at the very least. Still, better than paying EUR€ 34,680 (MYR 168,785*) for just a camera body. More information on Hasselblad’s latest products can be found on their website.

*approximately based on the exchange rate of EUR€ 1 = MYR 4.90 as of 16/05/2023 on xe.com

Lifestyle, News

AirAsia Departs Food Delivery in Cross-App Partnership with Foodpanda

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AirAsia’s “super-app” has been a work in progress for a while now. The app has launched several services, including ride-sharing, travel bookings and food delivery. In fact, the app leveraged its budget airline to deliver local delicacies like Penang’s famous Char Kueh Teow on specific days to users who pre-order. However, it looks like AirAsia isn’t going to be staying in food delivery for long – well, not independently.

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Airasia and Foodpanda will complement each other’s services in a ground-breaking partnership agreement. AirAsia will leverage Foodpanda’s extensive grocery and food delivery network and riders for food delivery while Foodpanda will offer ride-sharing services via Airasia Ride’s growing fleet of drivers. The partnership will come into effect from 30th May 2023.

airasia Superapp & foodpanda join forces for a groundbreaking partnership

The partnership will essentially see AirAsia throw in the towel when it comes to food delivery. From what we can see, the apps will not be intricately linked, instead, they will prompt users to head over to the other app. For now, this is being done with a prominent banner on Foodpanda’s home screen while on the AirAsia Superapp, the banner appears on the “food” section of the app.

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That said, the partnership expands the services offered by Foodpanda, one of the biggest food and grocery delivery apps in Malaysia. With the partnership kicking into gear, AirAsia’s food services will be transitioning to a dine-in model. No information just yet on whether AirAsia’s unique food delivery services and options will transition in the partnership, but it does seem like the food services on the superapp are winding down.

FoodPanda SuperApp WIN 9511x

Both Foodpanda and Airasia will be sharing more information on their socials as they kick into gear. You can follow them @airasiasuperapp and @foodpandamy.

Business, Computers, Editorial, Lifestyle, News

[Google I/O 2023] Google Bard – What is That?

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After Google I/O 2023 last week, you might have noticed that your Android smartphone pushing a notification to you. It is a prompt for you to try Google’s updated Bard. Most of you on Google’s email platform (Gmail) might also get an email asking you to try Bard today. If you are familiar with AI (artificial intelligence) news, you might already be familiar with Google’s Bard alongside OpenAI’s ChatGPT. To those, it might sound like a foreign object.

In simple terms, Google Bard is really the Google version of ChatGPT. While ChatGPT is developed by OpenAI, Bard is completely Google. You want to keep in mind that both ChatGPT and Bard are two separate platforms altogether though before jumping to conclusions and say that they are the same things. They are both categorised as generative AI, but they are both different from one another.

Unlike ChatGPT which has existed for some time, and is in its fourth iteration, Google Bard is fresh out of the oven; two months out of the oven, to be fair. Like ChatGPT, Google Bard was launched as an experiment. Like ChatGPT as well, the technology for Google Bard is not exactly new.

What is Google Bard?

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Source: Google

As mentioned, Google Bard is a generative and creative AI by Google. Instead of overcomplicating the explanation, Google’s FAQ says that Google Bard is technically based on their LaMDA (Language Model for Dialogue Applications) AI model, Google’s very own linguistics program written for conversational purposes. When we say conversational, we do not mean that it will be like a regular conversation with a human being, but LaMDA aims to make it close.

To be fair, Google’s conversational AI is not something you have not seen before, you see it with Google Assistant whenever you call out “Hey, Google,” or “Okay, Google”. You can even use Google’s clever Assistant to get you a booking for a restaurant by having Google Assistant make the call and get the booking done, instead of you calling the restaurant yourself. In their demo a few years ago, Google’s Voice Assistant sounded so natural that the other person on the other end of the line could not even tell that they are speaking to an artificial person. This proves that LaMDA works, and has a place in the world. But our many use case of the Google Assistant even with Google Nest systems is prove enough that conversational AI has many uses in the current world.

Bard is not just a conversationalist though. It is more than that, a generative AI of sorts. It still has its roots in LaMDA, but it is a lot more than that now. It is made as a collaborative tool, for you to basically generate ideas, tabulate and make sense of data, help you plan things, help you design tools and steps, collate your calendars, and even use it as a learning tool.

According to Google, Bard is made to create original contents at the request and behest of individual users. Meaning that the algorithm could be different are results can be different from one person to another. Because it is Google, any request or question you post to Bard might prompt Bard to look into hundred or thousands of sources and draw conclusions, or present result in a way the does not infringe copyright or plagiarism laws. In the case that it does take up contents from another source, Bard will acknowledge and cite its sources. Google Bard is not built to write your college essay though, it is built to be a collaborator to manage your work and your life, to make it more seamless somehow over just Googling things. They do actually have a ‘Google It’ button for you to make full use of Google’s search engine though.

It is not a 100% solution for your own research and use case though. Google has mentioned and stressed that Google Bard is an experiment. It is an opportunity for their AI engines to learn even more at an accelerated pace with public input and use. Google Bard is meant to be iterated, which also means that the current form of Google Bard will not be final. They also mention that Google Bard, at its current form will not be 100% accurate at all times; hence, the ‘Google It’ button on Bard. While it is open source, Google also says that Bard is not meant to be used commercially or for advertising purposes at this time.

Why Bard?

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Source: Google

The entire existence of Bard could be a sharp response to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The success of the open-source AI platform has sort of forced Google to quickly introduce their own AI tool for use to the public. If they are to be believed, Google could offer the most powerful AI tool for the masses.

In the recent Google I/O 2023, Google has officially embraced Bard and announced that they have moved Bard to PaLM 2, an improved language model that offers more capabilities of Google Bard compared to just conversational based on LaMDA model. PaLM 2 now offers Bard the ability to code and program. It also allows Bard to solve even more complex mathematical problems and process through more complex reasoning models that offers Bard the ability to make better decisions over time.

As of Google I/O 2023, Google has opened the Bard experiment to more than 180 countries as of writing and is available in Japanese and Korean. As things go, Google is planning to open the experiment to more regions and make Bard available in about 40 languages. On top of more languages and regions, where the older Google Bard was mostly just conversational via text, the new improvement at Google I/O 2023 adds some visual flavours to your conversations with Bard. They have integrated Goole Lens into Bard and allow you to now scan photos of your things at home and let Bard come up with whatever captions you might want. You can even add photo references to your Google Bard generated itinerary when you travel.

But it is not just the surface updates for Google Bard. For Google I/O 2023, they have announced that Bard is not just a tool that is isolated from any other systems. Google is making the Bard available with an “export” button for collaboration purposes in the form of exporting and running codes on Python. You could directly copy email responses into your Gmail or Google Docs, if you want. If you want more out of Bard, you can even expect Adobe Firefly integration in the coming future for even more powerful generative tools like complete poster designs based on both Google’s and Adobe’s combined algorithms. They have also announced that they are working with more partners like Kayak, OpenTable, ZipRecruiter, Instacart, Wolfram and Khan Academy to get their Google Bard project integrated into their services and products.

In this case, where OpenAI is allowing you to plug its API anywhere and get it working with minor tweaks, Google is not looking to just do that. Google is offering deep integration with their partners to create even more, to become an even more powerful tool in your toolkit for the future. They look to open up even more opportunities and applications for the average user with deeper and more curated collaborations with partnering brands. While that may not necessarily be the best thing to do for some, it is a way forward for more integrated services and solutions to serve individuals and businesses better. It even allows partnering companies to understand their users and customers better in some cases.

Android, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

The Sony Xperia 1V is Here – Mark V, Not Vee, Coming Soon for MYR 6,399 Onward

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Sony’s Xperia flagships is always something we look forward to. Since its rebirth, the Xperia 1 brand is a household name for those who wants a unique flagship that is completely different from the ones you see in the regular stores. If you noticed, the Xperia 1 smartphone has never really been sold via the network carriers. They are sold almost exclusively by retail partners and Sony flagship stores. That is only one reason why the Xperia 1 series smartphones are so unique.

Another thing that really sets the Xperia 1 series devices is also its design. It is a very distinctive and classic design; one that has not changed over its 5 generation of flagship smartphone. Yes, it is in its 5th generation now, hence the ‘V’ in its name. The design is not only classic though, but also functional, timeless, and rather unique for a market that focuses so much on curved and rounded edges. While it might look like an uncomfortable piece of slab in your hands, it is surprisingly one of the most intuitive shapes you might find in the industry. It also feels industrial, we admit.

As industrial as it feels, the device does come packing a lot of power. It is not built for the masses though; you can feel it when you first pick up the device. The device is made for those who are in the know, who wants function over form, who wants their smartphone to be a complete extension of themselves and their lifestyle. It is made for content creators and professionals. The new one, the mark V, might just be another game changer.

Xperia 1 V | Official Product Video - Next-gen sensor. Next-gen imaging.​

Same Old Shell, But Better Internals

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The Xperia 1V, as we might have expected, shares mostly the same look as the older Xperia 1 devices. It is a rectangular slab with hard edges all around. The design, as we mentioned as well, is timeless, classic. But for Sony, looks is rather secondary; it is function over form and that is where the Sony Xperia 1V might appeal to you, it does to us anyway.

We do have to start with the boring stuff though. It comes with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen2 platform, the most powerful mobile integrated chip you can find on an Android smartphone today. Of course, it goes without saying that the Sony Xperia 1V also comes with 5G thanks to the platform. Alongside the powerful System on a Chip (SoC) is 12GB RAM for better multitasking experience. You get up to 512GB of storage too, for all the photos and videos you are going to be taking with the Xperia 1V. If that is not enough, the Xperia 1V also comes with a dedicated MicroSD expansion slot, a pleasant welcome for modern flagships.

Out the front though is an Xperia special. This is still one of the only flagship smartphones in the industry to pack a 4K resolution display. Measuring in at 6.5-inch, you get an OLED panel that refreshes at 120Hz for that extra smooth feel on your interface and games. Entertainment is in Sony’s blood, so they also outfitted the Xperia 1V with some low-noise speakers for the best-in-class audio performance. They even have a “Game Enhancer” mode that is supposed to improve gaming performance on the device itself and even allow players to stream their games on YouTube without additional hardware.

The Exmor T for Mobile – The Game Changer

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    Source: Sony
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This device is made for the content creators though. It packs a brand-new innovation from the camera division. It packs Sony’s latest Exmor T sensor for mobile. While it is not quite a 1-inch sensor, the newly developed sensor for mobile platforms is clever. It is a stacked CMOS image sensor with 2-layer Transistor Pixel. What that means for users is that the newly developed sensor is supposed to offer better low-light performance than ever before. It is also a much faster sensor offering higher levels of detail than older mobile camera sensor technologies. They also claim that the new sensor offers photos with less noise and dynamic range closer to what you can get out of a full-frame system. On top of the Exmor T for mobile 48-Megapixels sensor is a 24mm Zeiss lens with T* coating for less distortion and better clarity. There is also a 16mm 12-Megapixel ultra-wide shooter and another telephoto lens with 12-Megapixel sensor behind it. The unique thing about the telephoto lens though is that it offers an optical zoom between 85-125mm (3.5x-5.2x).

One big thing about the Xperia 1V is also the improvement of the S-Cinetone colour gamut. The S-Cinetone colour gamut can be considered a cinematographer favourite when it comes to shooting contents. With the Xperia 1V, S-Cinetone for mobile has been improved to offer better skin tones and offer more cinematic footages even before a comprehensive colour grading work. Since the new sensor offers better colour and detail performance, you also get enhanced saturation over the older smartphone. Of course, the low-light performance of the sensors helps with S-Cinetone too.

Thanks to Real-time tracking and Eye AF functions, the Sony Xperia 1V is a powerful tool for video and photo work when you really have nothing else to work with. If you are too lazy to post process your photos or videos, the smartphone also offers colour presets in Creative Look mode. When you need it to, the Sony Xperia 1V can capture photos at up 30 frames per second while tracking moving objects rather accurately. For vloggers reviewing products, there is a Product Showcase setting that forces the camera to focus more on the product on hand over the reviewer’s face. There is also a new voice priority mic within the camera that ensures that the creator’s voice is clearly heard in every situation.

Battery – Still As Big, But Better and Longer-Lasting

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Source: Sony

Of course, for the Xperia 1V to be an extension of yourself, you need it to work an entire day and probably even more. The 5,000mAh battery within the classic body ensures that you have at least 20 hours of battery life even when you play videos at 4K the entire time. It also supports fast-charging technology so you can fully charge your device in just about an hour. With some new technologies and know-how, Sony has managed to improve the battery lifespan of the battery, which means that battery life anxiety might not be a thing for the Xperia 1V for years to come.

Price and Availability

The Sony Xperia 1V is not known for its colour options. It comes in three colour options still – Black, Khaki Green, and Platinum Silver. While some markets are getting the device in June, Sony Malaysia has confirmed that Malaysia will get the Sony Xperia 1V treatment on the 3rd of July 2023 onward. Sony Malaysia has also confirmed that the Sony Xperia 1V will be priced at MYR 6,399 onward. More on the Sony Xperia 1V can be found on their website.

Android, Gaming, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

ASUS Launches the ROG Phone 7 in Malaysia Priced from MYR 3,599!

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ASUS launched their flagship smartphone, the ROG Phone 7 last month in April 2023. As promised, ASUS has brought the new flagship gaming smartphone into Malaysia. They are also available for purchase now as we speak; if you are interested, you can check out their roadshow happening now to the end of this weekend (14th of May 2023) at Pavilion Bukit Jalil.

To recap, the ROG Phone 7 comes in two variants, the regular vanilla ROG Phone 7, and one ROG Phone 7 Ultimate flavour. The vanilla ROG Phone 7 is still a powerful device packing Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 platform. You still get up to opt for up to 16GB in LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB in storage space if you do not mind spending a little bit more money.

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Whichever ROG Phone 7 series device you pick, it comes with a large 6.78-inch AMOLED display that offers Full HD+ resolution at 165Hz refresh rate and up to 720Hz in sampling rate for a smooth and near instant input feel. The AMOLED display also offers the best-in-class viewing experience with up to 1,500 nits in brightness and ΔE<1 colour accuracy. For the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate, you get an extra matrix display shooting visuals out of the back of the device (ROG Vision).

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate also has a trick up its sleeve over the regular ROG Phone 7. You not only get the latest AeroActive Cooler active cooling solution and attachment for your ROG Phone 7 Ultimate, but the cooler also activates a flap they call the AeroActive Portal that will increase an airflow channel to allow for better cooling. The result is up to 20% thermal efficiency from the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate. That, alongside the Boron Nitride thermal compound, bigger vapor chamber,a graphite sheets on the CPU means that the CPU can be pushed to its limits for longer periods of time without compromising gaming performance.

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Other updates on the series include better audio tuned by Dirac Virtuo, X Sense software, better AirTrigger, and new gesture controls including Gyroscope aiming. Within the new ROG Phone 7 devices are 10 motion controls with an X-axis liner motor for powerful and immersive haptic feedback like the one you get on your console controller. You can even adjust the haptic feedback for better response, or just all-around better feel for your controls.

Price and Availability

As mentioned, the ROG Phone 7 series is now available in Malaysia. You can get your vanilla variant of the ROG Phone 7 in either white or black colour options. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate will be available 15th of May 2023 onward in Malaysia. There is no colour option for this one, unfortunately, just white. The white does bring the ROG Vision out a little bit more though. The ROG Phone 7 will start at MYR 3,599 (12GB + 256GB) while the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate starts at MYR 4,999 and comes with the AeroActive Cooler 7 out-of-the-box. More information on the ROG Phone 7 series can be found on their website.