Tag Archives: Apps

Business, News

Microsoft Office 2024 Arrives in Malaysia: Own Your Productivity Tools

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Great news for Malaysian users who prefer a one-time purchase for their productivity needs! Microsoft Office 2024 is now available, offering classic desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for both Windows and macOS. This article dives into its availability, pricing, and what it means for you.

MS Office 2024

Unlike Microsoft 365, a subscription service, Office 2024 provides a one-time purchase option. This means you pay upfront and own the software license permanently, allowing you to use it on one PC or Mac for non-commercial purposes. This is ideal for users who prefer a more traditional ownership model and don’t need the cloud storage and other features offered by Microsoft 365.

What’s Included in Office 2024?

This version of Office comes with the core applications you’ve come to rely on:

  • Word: Create professional documents, letters, and reports with familiar features like formatting tools, styles, and collaboration options.
  • Excel: Analyze data, create spreadsheets, and build complex formulas to manage your finances or any data-driven project.
  • PowerPoint: Design compelling presentations with customizable templates, animations, and transitions to engage your audience.
  • OneNote: Take notes, organize your ideas, and collaborate with others in a digital notebook environment.

Pricing and Availability in Malaysia

Microsoft Office Home 2024 is readily available for purchase in Malaysia through the Microsoft Store and authorized retailers. The one-time purchase price is RM609 (including taxes). This provides you with the aforementioned applications for a single PC or Mac.

Here’s a quick breakdown compared to Microsoft 365:

FeatureOffice 2024Microsoft 365 (Personal)
Purchase ModelOne-time purchaseSubscription (monthly/yearly)
ApplicationsWord, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNoteWord, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher (PC only), Access (PC only), 1 TB OneDrive storage, 60 Skype minutes per month
Price (RM)RM609Starts from RM39 per month

Is Office 2024 Right for You?

If you’re a student, home user, or small business owner who needs core productivity applications for everyday tasks and prefers a one-time purchase, Office 2024 could be a perfect fit. However, if you require cloud storage, access to additional applications like Publisher and Access (PC only), or the convenience of automatic updates, Microsoft 365 might be a better choice.

So, will you be opting for the ownership model of Office 2024, or is Microsoft 365’s subscription model more your style? Let us know in the comments below!

News

Microsoft Designer Comes to PC & Mobile with a Brand New App

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Microsoft has unveiled a brand new tool that is poised to take on the likes of Canva and Adobe Express – Microsoft Designer. Leveraging the power of artificial intelligence, this app empowers users of all skill levels to design stunning graphics with minimal effort.

Designer Homepage desktop mobile hi res 1536x855 webp

At the heart of Microsoft Designer is its AI-driven design assistant. Simply describe your desired design in plain language, or upload a photo, and the app will generate a variety of creative options to choose from. Beyond generating designs, Microsoft Designer offers a comprehensive suite of editing tools. Users can easily customize templates, add text, and manipulate images to achieve their desired look. The app also boasts a vast library of high-quality images, icons, and fonts to enhance designs.

One of the standout features of Microsoft Designer is its image editing capabilities. With just a few clicks, users can remove backgrounds from images, apply artistic filters, and even create stunning AI-generated images. These tools elevate the overall design process and enable users to produce professional-looking visuals.

Designer Editor 900px2x 1 1536x818 webp

Microsoft Designer is available across multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. This ensures users can access their designs and continue their creative journey seamlessly across devices. The app has been available on the web akin to its competition but is now available as a standalone app.

Lifestyle, News

Samsung Introduces New Shop App

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Samsung is ready to change the way you shop with its new Shop app. Designed to enhance your shopping experience, this app brings a range of benefits and features to your fingertips. For the first in-app purchase by a Samsung Account user, enjoy an exclusive 10% welcome voucher (capped at RM200) using the code SHOPAPP10 at checkout. This offer is valid until January 16, 2024.

Unveiling the Future of Shopping The Launch of Samsung Shop App KV
Source: Samsung Malaysia Electronics

The Samsung Shop App will allow users to access exclusive deals and promotions specially tailored for app users, ranging from limited-time discounts to special bundles. It will also give users instant updates on promotions, flash sales, and exclusive launches.

Users who sign up for the Samsung Shop App will be able to earn and redeem Samsung Rewards Points. You will accumulate points with each purchase and be able to redeem them for future purchases, making your shopping experience more rewarding.

You’ll also be able to track your Samsung orders effortlessly. The app allows you to track your orders in real-time, maintaining control from checkout to doorstep delivery. If you need assistance, the Shop app will connect you with chat agents for personalized support and guidance during your shopping journey.

You can download the Samsung Shop App on the Google Play Store now to up your Samsung shopping experience.

Business, News

Apple Showcases Its In-House Apps on New ‘Apps by Apple’ Page

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Apple has introduced an all-new “Apps by Apple” webpage, residing on its official website. This dedicated space serves as a platform to celebrate and showcase Apple’s proprietary apps, available across the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV ecosystems.

Screenshot 2023 09 05 at 20 25 24 Apps by Apple

In true Apple fashion, the company showcases its commitment to delivering a seamless user experience through these apps, accompanied by tantalizing glimpses of forthcoming features in iOS 17 and beyond.

So, what exactly does this ‘Apps by Apple’ page bring to the table?

A Guide to Apple’s App Universe

This newly minted digital domain, found at apple.com/apps, conveniently categorizes Apple’s apps into six distinct clusters:

  1. Communication: Tagged as “Apps to keep you connected,” this category includes essentials like Phone, Messages, FaceTime, Mail, and Contacts. Apple’s aim here is clear – to facilitate effortless connections.
  2. Creativity: “Tools for pros and passionate creatives” is the mantra here. This enclave caters to the artist in you, boasting apps like Photos, Camera, GarageBand, iMovie, and Final Cut Pro for iPad.
  3. Productivity: In the “All you need to make your work of art” realm, Apple’s offerings include Notes, Reminders, Calendar, Freeform, and Pages. The focus? Enhancing your productivity and creativity.
  4. Exploration: Embark on journeys of discovery with apps like Safari, Maps, Weather, Find My, and Wallet. These apps are designed to simplify your explorations of both the digital and physical worlds.
  5. Entertainment and Home: “Brilliant ways to watch, read, listen, and relax” – this segment features Apple TV, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Music Classical, and Podcasts, promising entertainment and relaxation at your fingertips.
  6. Health and Fitness: Prioritizing “Wellness for your mind and body,” Apple offers apps such as Apple Health, Fitness, Workout, Sleep, and Cycle Tracking. Your well-being takes centre stage here.
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  • Screenshot 2023 09 05 at 20 26 09 Apps by Apple
  • Screenshot 2023 09 05 at 20 25 41 Apps by Apple
  • Screenshot 2023 09 05 at 20 25 51 Apps by Apple

Aside from these categories, the ‘Apps by Apple’ page provides insights into the features that underpin Apple’s ecosystem. These include Siri, iCloud, CarPlay, and Continuity, designed to seamlessly integrate various aspects of your digital life. Family Sharing, another highlighted feature, promotes harmonious device sharing among families.

A Response to Regulatory Changes

It’s worth noting that the unveiling of this page comes at a time when the European Union (EU) is considering regulations that may require Apple to allow third-party app stores and sideloading on iPhones within its member states. Sideloading entails installing apps from sources other than Apple’s App Store. Apple’s long-standing argument for restricting sideloading revolves around security concerns, as it enables stricter control over potential threats like malware.

With these regulatory shifts looming, Apple’s ‘Apps by Apple’ initiative can be seen as a strategic move to bolster its in-house app portfolio. By emphasizing the quality, seamlessness, and privacy features of its apps, Apple aims to ensure that users continue to choose its ecosystem, even in the face of alternative options.

Apple reassures users that “Every app by Apple comes with powerful privacy features to help protect your data and give you control over your information.” This commitment aligns with Apple’s broader stance on privacy and data protection.

While these changes may initially impact EU users, the global tech landscape may witness ripple effects as the industry navigates evolving regulations.

In conclusion, Apple’s ‘Apps by Apple’ webpage serves as a testament to the company’s dedication to delivering a user-friendly and secure app experience. As the tech world continues to evolve, Apple remains unwavering in its pursuit of innovation and excellence.

Android, Mobile, News

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

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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.

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.

Lifestyle

Travel Conveniently This Hari Raya with Traveloka

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It’s been a while since travel was a reality. With the Malaysian government easing up on the restrictions and SOPs, many Malaysians are looking forward to spending Hari Raya with their loved ones. Traveloka is gearing up to enable everyone to do this with brand new features and offers that will allow users to find the best value for their money and also create more heartfelt memories with their loved ones.

Being one of the largest travel and experience super apps, Traveloka is looking to enable an affordable and memorable ‘balik kampung’ experience for everyone. They are introducing a new feature which will allow users to get the most affordable flights to head home for Raya. The new feature will allow users to select the cheapest flights to and fro regardless of airline. This means that you get to mix and match your flights to get one that best suits your plans. What’s more, you can mix and match airlines to best fit your budget as well. This has become even more important given the current surge in travel pricing.

The new feature is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Raya goodies. Traveloka is also offering savings of up to 50% on bookings made on the app. This includes travel, hotels and even experiences. Users can even get a further MYR120 discount with the coupon code TVLKRAYA550. You can even stack coupons for even more discounts. Oh, did we mention, that bookings made through the Traveloka super app qualify for tax exemptions?

Traveloka Raya Sana Sini
Traveloka Malaysia Brand Ambassador Diana Danielle and Traveloka Malaysia Country Manager Angelica Chan

The experience with the Traveloka doesn’t end there. The super app also has a feature called “Game Farm” where users are able to entertain themselves while travelling. Game Farm comes with a myriad of games from puzzle games to mind teasers. Traveloka has also offered coupons and discounts via the feature in the past. Who knows, you may just stumble upon even more savings while playing!

Aside from discounts and new features, Traveloka hosted an exclusive meet and greet with local celebrity, Diana Danielle at the InterContinental in Kuala Lumpur. She shared her experiences as a wife and young mother at the event, “This is the first Raya since the pandemic where all Malaysians will be able to gather without restrictions. This year is about reconnecting with family and loved ones. The Traveloka travel super app allows us to customise our balik kampung experience, providing a seamless, safe and convenient experience and more value for every Ringgit. Through Traveloka, users can book flights to and from their destinations, as well as choose a different airline of their choice for both ways.”

InterContinental is also having a special Raya and Ramadhan promotion. The hotel is offering a special room package with buka puasa and sahur included which they are calling “Break-Away”. You’ll be able to stay at the five-star hotel and simply relax.

Traveloka COVID

While everyone is abuzz with anticipation for the upcoming Raya festivities, we still have to be mindful to take measures to prevent accidentally infecting our loved ones. You can book COVID tests easily on the Traveloka app with discounts as well. Drive-thru facilities are also offered. The extra precautions will allow us to celebrate Raya happily and without any untoward events.

iOS, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Apple is Cracking Down on Outdated Apps from App Store!

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Quite recently Google has updated their Play Store policy and practices to start removing apps that has been sitting idle without updates. When they say remove though, it will still sit in the database, but will not appear to users while users who are already using the app will still get access to the apps. It is a good way, in our opinions, to clean up their app databases while giving users the flexibility to choose the apps they use on their devices.

It seems like Apple wants to also do the same, except they are making the implementation more immediate in nature. This was not an announcement from Apple really, just a social media posting captured by The Verge mentioning an email received from Apple. The email is for an independent developer for a free game sitting in the Apple App Store. The email pointed out that the app has not been updated for over two years and Apple will remove the app from the App Store if the app is not updated in the next 30 days.

That is not the only developer to receive a warning email from Apple though. From The Verge’s coverage, it seems like there are more than just a few developers that received an email just because they have not updated their app for two years or so. To be fair, there is a good reason why Apple wants to ensure that apps featured on their App Store is up to date. The way Apple has been implementing it though, is a little odd.

Apple and Google, both largest app ecosystem platforms in the world, work very hard to keep their marketplaces as safe as they can be. The update security features all the time, and within their updates, they would require developers to also comply to their newer guidelines set within their updates. Understandably, most of the updates would require developers to patch their apps to match the guidelines set by both Google and Apple, in the name of protecting their users too. In that case it can be understandable for both Google and Apple to start enforcing a stricter “outdated” regulation for their app stores.

This is not technically the first time that Apple removes apps from their App Store. They had a similar exercise back in 2016 where they removed apps that has been sitting without updates for over two years in the App Store giving developers only 30 days to submit an update for the App Store. While the practice seems to have gone on for a while, Apple has made no attempts in reporting or documenting their attempts so far other than the emails sent to developers. There are currently no clear guidelines as well on what Apple considers to be “outdated” in their App Store.

As we mentioned, Google is sort of doing the same thing; they are trying to ensure that their developers keep their apps up to date to meet the security requirements set by Google. Google is giving developers until the end of October 2022 to at least submit an update for their apps. Google will also grant six-month extension requests if developers cannot meet the deadline.

Mobile, News

Coming Soon, Maybe: Deleting that Three-Month Old Mistake on WhatsApp

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WhatsApp is full of wonders. It is, despite the whole Facebook Privacy Policy debacle earlier this year, the most popular alternative messaging app we have seen. No manufacturer has ever seen this kind of success with their own messaging platform. This includes BlackBerry in their hey day mind you.

Being on top is not all sunshine and roses though. To stay on top, as they say, you have to keep pushing boundaries. WhatsApp, of course is constantly improving and adding new features to their app to keep users happy and excited at least. The most recent possible update to WhatsApp in the future? Deleting messages.

Yes, deleting messages used to be something you cannot do with WhatsApp. Before you say we are outdated, hear us out. We know that it is now a thing on WhatsApp. At this point of time, you can delete messages that are no older than an hour and eight minutes. At its early days, WhatsApp only allow you to delete fresh messages no older than seven minutes.

WA DELETE MESSAGE EVERYONE V2 ANDROID
Source: WABetaInfo

Recently though, WABetaInfo has spotted a new feature on the latest beta version of WhatsApp. The latest beta 2.21.220.15 for iOS as per available to WABetaInfo allows users to delete messages not two hours older, not even just a day older. It now allows you to delete messages that are three months old.

WABetaInfo speculates that the new update might point to one of two things. Either WhatsApp is looking to extend the time limit on their delete messages feature or remove the time limit completely. They are also speculating that the update may open up even more avenues to deleting messages even before the feature was introduced.

While all these are under development and that should be cause enough for excitement, there are no official word from Meta (formerly known as Facebook) and WhatsApp themselves just yet. The features in development remain as a potential feature to the app and not an actual feature until it is launched in any of WhatsApp many updates. In that sense, nobody knows when all these developments will become a feature, only time can tell.

Mobile, News

Popular Livestreaming Apps LIVIT, WAVE and 17LIVE Streamlined to 17LIVE

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If you’re a fan of live-streamed content, LIVIT shouldn’t be alien to you. After amassing quite the user base since its launch in 2015, the app is undergoing a change in identity. However, it has also, unwittingly created a fractured identity.

17LIVE
Hirofumi Ono, Global CEO of 17LIVE announcing the streamlining of the apps (Source: 17LIVE)

Having launched initially in Taiwan in 2015, the app launched as 17Live, pronounced “one seven live”. When said in Mandarin – 一七LIVE （yi qi LIVE) – becomes a homonym of 一起LIVE which means Live Together or Together Live. However, as the app grew and began to gain popularity in countries like the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore among others across seven continents, the app’s identity began to splinter. English markets were familiar with LIVIT while the Indonesian market was familiar with WAVE. Other markets, however, knew the same app as 17LIVE.

In honour of its humble origins, the app is now being streamlined as 17LIVE. The rebranding not only gives the app a unified identity but also aligns both the company and app identities. One Seven Live will continue to offer the same experience in their apps which will now be rebranded with a new icon, logo and name. However, the experience in the app will remain familiar.