Tag Archives: Android

Android, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Audio Switching on Android, Coming Soon by Google 

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Bluetooth, we think, is a gift to the world. It is the alternative to Wi-Fi. In its current Bluetooth 5.0 generation, the technology is better than it has even been. Over a short distance, it is one of the best ways to transfer large amounts of data. It allows multiple devices to be connected simultaneously. It is also the most stable type of short-range connection you can get in your mobile devices today at ultra-low latency. 

That is why it is the preferred connection when it comes to your portable and wireless audio gear. Microsoft and Google have made it a point to allow for certified Bluetooth devices to connect to their devices much quicker and easier. The Quick Pair and Fast Pair functions saves us users a lot of time in connecting our Bluetooth gear. 

There is a problem with all these conveniences however, or rather, an inconvenience. Especially since multi-device connectivity is available on Bluetooth earphones, getting your devices or audio coming out from the right devices seems to be an issue today. For you to switch audio input from one device to the other is still a manual labour, no more inconvenient that just completely switching your Bluetooth earphone’s input source.  

Google Audio Switching 

According to Google’s blog post, their audio switching technology works on top of their Fast Pair algorithm. That also means that you do need to have a Bluetooth device that supports Google Fast Pair for it to work. Most new Bluetooth enabled wireless headphones today, save for Apple’s offerings, features Fast Pair anyway. 

They explained that using contextual information on what you are listening to, the algorithm automatically switches your audio input based on your actions. The algorithm is also highly dependent on audio prioritization to determine which audio source should be prioritized over which. For example, if your headset is connected to both your tablet and your smartphone and you are listening to music on your tablet and you received a simple notification on your smartphone, your gear should not be switching sources. When you get a call on your phone, for example, only then your audio source should prioritize the phone call and switch its source to your smartphone immediately. 

While there is a default priority setting to what your Bluetooth device prioritizes, Google is also giving users the ability to select and customize the experience on their own. At the same time, the experience will not only be limited to Fast Pair enabled Bluetooth audio gear connected to Android or Google devices only. The feature will also be available for all devices that support Bluetooth multipoint connection allowing you to have the convenience of quickly switching audio sources from your smartphone to your Windows laptop and vice versa.  

Currently, Google will be rolling out the new feature update to their own Pixel Buds Pro first. They say that they are rolling out the updates to their manufacturing partners like Sony and JBL over the next few weeks. From then on it is just a matter of time before the current line-up of Sony and JBL Bluetooth headsets get the update from the manufacturer’s end. You do not necessarily need an app to toggle audio switching as well, you just need to head into ‘Device details’ in the general Bluetooth settings page.  

Android, Mobile, News

Sony Xperia 1 IV Available For Pre-order in Malaysia with Free WF-1000XM4

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Sony announced the Xperia 1 globally a little over a month ago. Their new flagship smartphone is doubling down on its camera functions and also the ethos of being an exceptional creator’s device. It continues Sony’s minimalistic design and also still features some of the best when it comes to the company’s imaging technologies.

The smartphone is now available in Malaysia for pre-orders. It will be retailing for MYR6,099 – a very hefty ask in the current market. However, Sony is sweetening the pot by throwing in their popular WF-1000XM4. The true wireless, wireless earbuds retail for MYR1,099 by themselves. The earbuds have been lauded for their impressive audio quality and also their fit. You can get our take on them in our full review.

Xperia 1 Pre order
Source: Sony Malaysia Facebook

Packed with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and 12GB of RAM it’s definitely got the makings of a powerful device. With 256GB of internal memory and support for up to 1TB of additional storage with a microSD card, you wouldn’t be too hard-pressed for space when you shoot your content. The large 6.5-inch 4K HDR OLED screen will be able to show you everything in vivid detail.

On the optics side of things, the Xperia 1 IV comes with a triple sensor setup for its main camera. The main sensor is a 12-megapixel 24mm wide camera. This is complemented by a 12-megapixel 16mm ultrawide sensor and a 12-megapixel 85-125mm telephoto sensor for that telescopic zoom. There’s a lot more to the cameras than just the hardware, you’ll be able to get all the details in our coverage of its international launch.

The pre-order in Malaysia will be happening from 10 June 2022 until 10 July 2022. So, don’t miss your chance to get both the Sony Xperia 1 IV and the Sony WF-1000XM4.

News

Mozilla Thunderbird Gets A K-9 on Its Mobile Journey

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If you haven’t heard of Thunderbird, we wouldn’t blame you. The once popular open source email client has all but faded to obscurity since its last major update. The desktop version is still stuck in the early 2000s. When it comes to mobile, the email client is non-existent. Since its glory days from 2003 to 2005, the email client hasn’t had much of a visual overhaul nor has it made any strides to have a mobile presence of any kind.

Mozilla Thunderbird

That’s changed with a recent tweet from Ryan Lee Sipes, the product manager for Mozilla Thunderbird. In which he noted that his number 1 priority will be to fix Thunderbird’s UI and UX. The change will be a very very welcomed update – this coming from someone who still uses the email client. However, there isn’t a firm date when the big update will be coming. That said, the desktop app is due for its anniversary update on June 28. Could it be one and the same?

Aside from that, it looks like Mozilla is significant progress towards creating a mobile app for Thunderbird. Mozilla has acquired the trademark rights and source code of K-9 Mail on Android. This includes its GitHub repository. Together with all the code and repositories, Mozilla has also hired Christian Ketterer (cketti), the project’s maintainer. What this essentially means is that Thunderbird’s Android app will be built using the pre-existing code from K-9 Mail. Thankfully, this also means that the development timeframe for a Thunderbird mobile app can be significantly shortened.

It seems like together with the new UX and UI for the desktop application, Thunderbird will also be getting Firefox Sync as feature Mozilla Firefox users will be familiar with. This feature will allow you to sync emails, drafts and more between your different Thunderbird installs on mobile and on desktops. I’m pretty sure that this will be a welcomed development for anybody who finds themselves working on multiple devices.

K-9 Mail is already available on the Google Play Store. So, if you’re interested in contributing to the future of Mozilla Thunderbird, you can install the app as it is updated with features that will be central to the new Thunderbird mobile experience. Of course, if you do use the K-9 Mail app, you will need to potentially brace yourself for multiple UI and UX changes as the Thunderbird team builds on K-9 Mail. Once they’ve achieved their development milestones, the K-9 Mail app will conceivably be changed to Mozilla Thunderbird.

iOS, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Switching From iOS to Android Made Easier with Google’s Switch to Android App on Apple App Store

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Smartphones are great. Since the introduction of the first Apple iPhone and its App Store, the growth of this tiny handheld device has been quite exponential. We now live in a world where having a smartphone is not just a luxury, it is a requirement to getting most things done. We also live in a world where this piece of handheld electronics has become the most important personal equipment of ours.

Apple may be the first to introduce a smartphone ecosystem the world has never seen before. Their early dominance in the space inspired some lookalike products that were quite unsuccessful. But it also brought competition from some of the biggest players in the industry. It brought Android to the world as well and the battle for smartphone supremacy ensued to this day.

Being the two biggest players in the industry currently gives you two choices when you want to upgrade your smartphone. You can choose between an iPhone or pick from the sea of Android smartphones available to you. It sounds simpler than it is though.

If you are an Android user looking to upgrade your device, you are given plenty of choices. Swapping between one brand to another, while not without a small learning curve, is entirely possible and made very simple. It goes without saying, swapping from an Android system into the iOS ecosystem is also not very difficult. In fact, Apple introduced a “Switch to iOS” app into the Google Play Store back in 2015 to make their transition much easier.

The reverse is hardly true though. While swapping between one iOS device to the next can be made seamless with iTunes, there is still a small level of complexity involved. Everything is proprietary as well; you need to have an Apple account to backup and restore everything. In concept, it is very similar to what you already have in Android’s Google account requirements. It locks you into the system, making it difficult for you to port out of iOS and into Android.

There are plenty of apps and service providers that have attempted to make switching out of iOS much simpler than before. You have developers who specifically developed apps to help you transfer WhatsApp data from an iOS device to an Android device. Samsung themselves also developed the Smart Switch that can recover most of the data from your old iPhone when you switch to a Samsung device specifically. Now Google is also in that fight to bring more iOS users out of Apple’s ecosystem and into Google’s Android world.

The app is called ‘Switch to Android’, and it is available in Apple’s App Store in certain regions currently. Of course, the app will be made available globally as time passes, but for now a few regions is what we get. It also seems like the app is not a complete app just yet with limited access, something Google will be rectifying as well in future iterations, we assume.

Screenshot 2022 04 14 at 12 26 17 Switch To Android
Source: Apple App Store
Screenshot 2022 04 14 at 12 26 31 Switch To Android
Source: Apple App Store
Screenshot 2022 04 14 at 12 26 27 Switch To Android
Source: Apple App Store
Screenshot 2022 04 14 at 12 26 23 Switch To Android
Source: Apple App Store

It is a relatively straightforward app to work with. It is essentially a porting tool on an iOS device meant to transfer as much data as possible from the iOS device to any Android device of the user’s choice. How the app ports the data off to an Android device is by first establishing a connection between the iOS device and the Android device of choice. After the network is made, the app is supposed to allow you to transfer things like contacts, messages, photos, and even videos from your iOS device. Some early preview also shows that the app will prompt you to turn off iMessage to ensure you get text messages on your Android device since it is one of the most common issues plaguing users switching out of Apple’s platform. Of course, all the data that is to be copied must be stored on the device itself. Anything within Apple Cloud will not be copied over.

While the app is now available for iOS device on the Apple App Store, you want to keep in mind that there are still plenty of missing features. The app is also sitting as an unlisted app in the App Store currently, which might also mean that you might not be able to simply find the app via search. Google will be sure to update the app with more complete features in the coming iterations. For now though, if you are planning to switch from an iOS device to an Android device, the Samsung Galaxy devices with Smart Switch are still your best bet of retaining most of your data.

Android, Mobile, News

Soon, Every App on Google Play Store Will Be New Updated Apps

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Updating your apps is a hassle, so is finding the right app to do specific things you want for your Android or iOS machines. We live in an age where there is an app for everything, and it all started with the iPhone and then later expanded by Google’s Android ecosystem. To think that we almost do not get ecosystem with open-sourced apps is an odd one today.

Android’s foray into the app ecosystem game marks the start of a war between iOS and Android. The war of the app store, we call it. Who had better app support, who had better apps, and who had the biggest app store? We have reached a breaking point, however.

The world today, while still revolves around apps, cares more about the quality of contents each app delivers than how many apps you have on your smartphone. I, for one, want as little apps as possible on my smartphone but enough apps to perform everything I need from my smartphone. We do not need a million apps to do a million things. We want 10 apps that does 1,000 things well, and that is a problem for the app stores with millions upon millions of apps.

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Source: Google

While choices are good, Google deems that not all choices may be suitable for users. Of course, apps need to comply to Google’s security guidelines that changes with every new iteration of Android. That also means that apps that are on the Play Store should be updated to match the new security standards set by Google.

The problem is, while that is something that should be, it is not how it is in the current app stores. There are millions of apps in the ecosystem that has gone silent for years. These apps do not get updated and yet they still sit in the App Store. Granted, there are plenty of apps like these that are still being used by users. Developers of the app could have either given up on the project or have closed shop for a while. They still pose security risks for Android though.

In that case, Google is taking a step up in preventing users from downloading or coming across apps that have not been updated for longer than at least one generation of Android. That also means that if the apps on Google Play Store have not been updated for Android 11 currently, they app will be taken down from the Play Store, even if the ratings for the apps are high. When we say take down, they are not completely removed from the app store, more like downranked. If the app has not been updated for more than two generations, Play Store will not allow the app to be installed on your device at all.

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Source: Google

This system is completely dependent on the update cycle and age of your smartphone or tablet as well though. For example, if your device is still on Android 9, you will still be able to see apps that have been updated for Android 9, even if the said app has not been updated for Android 11 or Android 12. Once you update your device to Android 11 or 12 though, you may not see the app on the Play Store. However, if you already have the said app on your device, it will note affect your experience with the app at all. It will only affect new users to the said app.

The changes that are teased by Google is just that for now, a tease. It is expected that changes on the Play Store will start taking place on the 1st of November 2022 onward. It does give some time for developers who has not updated their apps for a year or two to prepare and update their apps before the implementation date. While it may seem odd that Google may be phasing out some of the higher rated apps just because they are old, it is also a good security measure for Android users with better compliance. It could also help new apps shine and get into the spotlight a little bit.

Android, Mobile, News

[PSA] Android Users, if You Have This App; Delete it Immediately! 

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Malicious apps on smartphones are nothing new today. With rapid adoption of smartphones across the globe, malwares are not really an ‘if’ anymore, it is more of a when. Google and Apple, the two largest ecosystem holders in the world, have done everything they can to prevent malwares from hitting their devices, but once in a while some things slip through.  

Very recently, Bleeping Computer has reported that researchers have found a malware on the Google Play Store. For the record, this is not the first time this has happened. These are not Android-only incidents too, before you start bashing Google for their lack of concern over our safety and privacy. This time round though, it is an Android isolated incident. 

The app in question is called ‘Craftsart Cartoon Photo Tools’. It is, in effect, malware disguised as a form of photo editing tool. As an app, it sounds quite fun. It allows you to upload an image and convert it into a cartoon artwork rendering of some sorts for you to upload to your social media for the fun of it. What comes with the app is not so fun. 

Pradeo, a security firm, discovered that the app comes with a Trojan malware called ‘FaceStealer’. It is what it sounds like, an identity theft malware. But it is not just any identity that it wants, it wants your Facebook ID and password. When you open the app for the first time, the Trojan fires up and opens a Facebook login screen for you to enter your Facebook credentials before you can use the account, which sounds completely normal. You can read more about what the trojan does via Bleeping Computer or Pradeo’s blog. 

According to the research in Pradeo, the developers have injected a small piece of malicious code within the app. It is small enough to slip past Google play Store’s security filters, but enough also to work. To ensure that it stays in the Google Play Store, the app has also been automatically repackaged so that it behaves like a regular legitimate app.  

This goes without saying, if you have the app installed in your Android smartphone, delete it immediately. There are no mentions if there is an iPhone equivalent on this. You can assume that currently it is only affecting Android devices, since ‘FaceStealer’ is made specifically for Android devices. The ‘Craftsart Cartoon Photo Tools’ has since been taken down from Google Play Store, but not without over 100,000 downloads first.  

Business, Consumer Electronics, iOS, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Apple TV App is Now Useless on Android TVs and Google TVs – This Could Go Either Way

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Apple TV+ is, there is no easier way of saying this, good. There are plenty of interesting and captivating shows that are exclusive to the platform. Those exclusives actually won awards, just to prove our point. But unti 2021, Apple TV+ holds their cards very close to their chest. You can only access the Apple TV+ app via Apple devices like Apple TV, Mac, iPhone, and iPad. You could not, and still cannot access it on your Android smartphones. 

In 2021, it seems that Android users might be able to get a glimpse of what is on the other side with the introduction of the Apple TV app on their Android or Google TVs. Through the app, you can access whatever that Apple has on their Apple TV box, they can buy movies, rent movies, and even subscribe to Apple TV+. Their app is also available on NVIDIA Shield, and Google’s Chromecast dongles.  

There was a recent update for the app on Android and Google powered TVs. After the update, it TVs or boxes with Google’s operating system works, but only just. The app on these devices can only play the movies or stream on Apple TV+ only if you have already bought them, or rent them, or subscribed to Apple TV+ previously. If you have not, you are out of luck because you no longer have an option to buy, rent, or subscribe to anything on the app. The only button left here is “How to Watch”.  

Yes, the app will teach you how to watch your movies or shows on Android or Google TVs. But you are also required to have an Apple device at that, which also means it is going to be an extra spend if you do not own an iPhone or an iPad. Like we said earlier, this could go either way. 

The decision by Apple to remove their in-app purchase features could be due to a few things. For one, Apple might want to avoid the 30% commission that Google demands for all in-app purchases on their platforms. The other one could also be to probably just sell more devices. Both are likely though. 

For now, this might lead to a sharp drop in their subscriber count on Android and Google TVs. In the future though, there might be a bigger demand for affordable Apple devices just for Apple TVs services and features. It also could discourage Apple iPhone or iPad users to switch out of Apple’s ecosystem. We will just stick to Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Videos for now.  

Android, Mobile

Early Android 13 Developer Previews are Already Showing New Features  

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Not all of us got Android 12 yet but it seems like Google is eager to get more features into Android and excited about their next major development path – Android 13. Android 13 is inevitable; we know that it is going to come as well toward the end of this year 2022 at Google I/O 2022 edition. What we don’t know is what Android 13 will bring to the table. For that, we need to scour around and look at the Developer Preview for Android 13. So far there has only been two iterations of Android 13 Developer Preview, but we are already seeing some interesting things emerging. 

DP1: Universal Search, now with Google Photos 

Pixel Launcher search photos old
Source: 9to5 Google
Pixel Launcher search photos 1
Source: 9to5 Google
Pixel Launcher search photos 2
Source: 9to5 Google

For the Google Pixel, Android 12 brought a universal search bar. The universal search bar not only acts as a search button for apps. It allows users to search through pretty much everything in their smartphone via a search bar in their app drawer. There is the Google Search bar widget, yes, but Android 12 allows the app drawer search bar to act as the Google Search bar too. There is still a lot to explore with the search bar.  

In Android 13 Developer Preview, it seems like Google is integrating Google Photos with the search bar. That means that you can use the search bar to not only instantly pull things from Google Photos, but also potentially get the full search algorithm functionality from Google Photos in the search bar itself. You could be looking for a contact, for example, and Google Photo’s facial and object recognition kicks into high gear to find you the most relevant photos to your search.  

With that kind of implementation on Google Photos, we will not be surprised as well if Google decides to integrate apps like Gmail and Calendar to the list of integrations with the search bar. It would be nice if we just need to tap into the search bar to search for things in our emails or calendar without even opening the apps. But we digress, all we can do is wait for Android 13 to see light of day. 

DP2: Notifications, now an Option 

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Source: Google

One feature that Android lacked (but was rumoured to feature soon), and iOS has for a while now is opt in notifications. What is that? IOS allows you to choose which applications sends you notifications. It is one way to ensure that your notification bar is not loaded with notifications that you hardly care about.  

It seems that we are going to see a form of that for Android 13. Via the preview, it also seems like you can prioritise notifications. Which also means that only certain notifications go through and load up your notification screen in differing modes. It is a small tweak, but a welcome one. 

DP2: Better Media Player Visuals 

Screenshot 20220317 133726
Source: The Verge

On the visual part, Android 13 seems to feature a redesigned media player layout on the notification screen. Having media controls on the notification screen is nothing new for Android. Having nicer visuals is. If you fire up Spotify, the media player control in the notification screen shows part of the artwork. The control panel seems to be a little larger in the preview too, allowing more controls over the app itself other than the Previous, Play/Pause, and Next buttons.  

And Even More 

These are just some of the highlighted changes that we can expect in Android 13 though. The Developer Preview has shown much more changes that we can sort of expect in the next iteration of Android. To know more about Google’s planned update for Android 13 or even to experience the Developer Preview yourself, you can visit their website. 

Android, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Android 12L is Here for Pixel Devices! But isn’t it for Tablets?

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Google introduced their 12th generation of Android in 2021 and it looked promising. It was not a major change to how Android worked, as we have covered, but more of small improvements that added up to affect the total experience of what the system is and what it can do for you. We’ve updated our smartphones to Android 12, whichever ones that can be updated, and so far, we like them.

Google, not too long after their 2021 I/O announcement and showcase of Android 12, also introduced something they call Android 12L. You can see it as Android 12.1 in the current scheme of things. For smartphones, the improvements on Android 12L are relatively minor. You might not even notice any changes if you have updated your devices to Android 12L, which might come later if you are not on a Pixel device. But as Google puts it back then, Android 12L is not for smartphones.

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Source: Google

The whole point of Google introducing an entirely new minor update for Android in the Android 12L is mostly for the big screens, the Android tablets. It is supposed to improve the interface and make the larger display more natural and more intuitive to use. The settings menu is also supposed to take advantage of the larger display factor for more information and more natural interaction. There is also a more intuitive and better-looking multitasking experience with dual window mode that is more prominent.

Android 12L update should also bring the tablet experience closer to that of a Chrome OS and Windows. There is a consensus out there that if you want to get an Android tablet, you might as well think of getting a Chromebook with Chrome OS instead. Chrome OS, while flawed, is still one of the best ways to even experience the Android experience on a larger display. It is also a much better PC replacement than an Android ever could be. That is what Android 12L is supposed to tackle anyway, to make tablets more relevant.

https://techent.tv/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/3._Split_screen_mode.mp4
Source: Google

All these sounds promising. There is a problem, however. The only Android tablet today that supports Android 12 is Samsung’s brand-new Galaxy Tab S8 series. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 series will be getting Android 12, but that also means that Android 12L will have to wait, since its replacement will not be getting Android 12L update this soon.

Google did mention, in their blog post, that 12L will roll out to tablets and foldables later in the year. They listed Samsung, Lenovo and Microsoft, so that is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy Z Fold3 covered, at least. We can only assume that from Microsoft’s end, it would be the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 that gets the update.

https://youtu.be/nvXR–VSosE

For Google’s Pixel devices though, the update, while minor, introduces some new useful features. For one, they added Night Sight for Snapchat users. It allows Snapchat to capture more vibrant and detailed snaps even in low-light conditions. There is also Live Caption mode in phone calls now where you can pick up a call, and simply converse by just typing your words out on the phone, or just clicking pre-set responses. You do not even have to listen to the phone call, just treat it like an instant messenger.

Live Translate is also getting an update from the new Android update. In Interpreter mode, you can now converse in Spanish, Italian, and French all through your smartphone. It will also be able to identify and translate Spanish in videos and photos when it is available on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

Of course, Google wants to ensure that you do not have to scroll through hoops of apps and screens to find the most basic information from your device. Google have added a few widgets to help you cut down precious time for your battery information for your smartphone and its connected devices. There is also an improved At a Glance widget that will also help you keep track of the battery, if you want an “everything in one” widget.

The new Android 12L or 12.1 update is now available for Google Pixel 3a series, Pixel 4 series, Pixel 4a series, Pixel 5, and Pixel 5a. Google’s latest Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will also be getting the update, but at a slightly later date. More information on Android 12L and its smartphone features can be found on Google’s Blog.

Accessories, News

Logitech Brings A New, Versatile Signature M650 Mouse

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Logitech is one of the most trusted brands when it comes to computer peripherals. The company has, over the years, made a name for itself with some of the most reliable and long-lasting keyboards and mouses out there. They’ve even expanded their portfolio to include gaming-centric peripherals under their Logitech G brand. That aside, we’re writing about their new Logitech Signature M650 mouse.

Low Resolution JPG M650 Desktop Solution ENVR 1
Source: Logitech

The Logitech M series mouses have been one of their most popular lineups for a while now mostly due to its comfort and also affordability. With the newly released Signature M650, Logitech is expanding the functionality, comfort and functionality of the lineup. They’re also bringing a version of the Signature M650 built specifically for lefties!

The new Logitech Signature M650 is equipped with both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connectivity via the Logi Bolt USB receiver. The SmartWheel on the M650 brings added control, allowing you to get line-by-line precision or super-fast scrolling as and when you need it. It’s also been ergonomically designed for comfort with a contoured body and soft area for your thumb. It also comes with rubber side grips for added grip. The Signature M650 is also more silent with 90% less click noise and has programmable buttons. You can customise the latter with Logitech Options Plus and set your favourite shortcuts.

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The M650 comes with 24-month battery life with a single AA battery and is compatible with Windows, Chrome OS, macOS, iPad OS, and Android. It’s priced at MYR159 and is currently available on shelves.